Information for the Southwest Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik on
Saturday morning, February 21, 2026
Special Avalanche Bulletin

What: The Utah Avalanche Center is warning of dangerous avalanche conditions across all Utah mountains this weekend. This week’s heavy snowfall and strong winds overloaded preexisting weak layers, creating a HIGH avalanche danger across the entire state. With improving weather moving in for the weekend, avalanche accidents are likely in the backcountry. There have already been two tragic avalanche fatalities this week, as well as several close calls and numerous backcountry avalanches reported.

When: In effect from 6:00 AM MST Friday to 6:00 AM MST Monday

Where: The mountains of Utah and southeastern Idaho.

Impacts: Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry and will persist through the weekend. Natural avalanches are possible, and people are likely to trigger avalanches on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Dangerous and deadly avalanches can be triggered remotely (from a distance or from below). People leaving ski area boundaries are entering the backcountry where the same dangerous avalanche conditions exist.

Warning Times: Friday, February 20, 2026 – Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:00 AM MST

Weather and Snow
We do not produce regular avalanche forecasts for the Southwest region of our state; however, we collect and publish observations from the area.
View the full list of observations HERE. Submit an observation HERE.
Here are some useful links to SNOTEL sites.
Pavani Range: Bobs Hollow Site (9319 ft)
Tushar Range: Big Flat Site (10,349 ft)
Sevier Plateau: Farnsworth Lake Site (9623 ft)
Brianhead area: Brianhead Site (10,039 ft)
To view all SNOTEL sites, use this MAP.
Additional Information
Chart of snow depth from Big Flat SNOTEL in the Tushar Range
Chart of snow depth from the Brianhead SNOTEL near the Brianhead Ski Area