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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Mark Staples
Issued by Mark Staples on
Saturday morning, December 30, 2017

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on mid and upper elevation slopes facing N, NE, and E where the danger is CONSIDERABLE and persistent slab avalanches will break on buried faceted layers. These are slopes with the most snow and best riding conditions, so the best strategy is to simply stick to low angle slopes and avoid being under steeper slopes. Avalanches yesterday and reports of collapsing of the snowpack are sure signs of unstable conditions.

Other slopes at lower elevations and other aspects have a MODERATE danger. Many of these slopes have similar faceted layers but the odds of triggering an avalanche are a little less. South and West aspects have minimal snow cover and a LOW danger.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements

Solitude will be conducting avalanche mitigation work in Honeycomb Canyon. Please stay clear of this area.

The Park City ski resort is doing control work in preparation for opening in McConkeys, Jupiter, and the Peak(Chutes) areas for the next several days​ These areas are closed to backcountry use.

Discount lift tickets for Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Deer Valley, Snowbasin,and Beaver Mountain are now available, donated by the resorts to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details and order information here. All proceeds go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!​

Weather and Snow

It's warm this morning with mountain temperatures in the mid 30's F and barely below freezing at 11,000 ft. Winds increased overnight and this morning are blowing 20 mph gusting 30-45 mostly from the West.

Slopes with a southerly aspect have been getting damp each day. Northerly facing slopes have become more supportable as the snow from last weekend has settled. On these northerly/shaded slopes, the snow surface has started faceting.

Read a quick summary of the storms and avalanche activity during the last week HERE.

Recent Avalanches

Two avalanches were reported yesterday. One was caused by a falling conice. A skier was on Honeycomb ridge, and a cornice broke near him which caused a slide about 20 inches deep failing on facets. Please be extra careful near ski area boundaries. Another slide happened in Dry Fork where a large group was skiing. Three people were skiing at about the same time. When the fourth skier entered the slope, an avalanche about 80 feet wide and about 2 feet deep broke and caught all four. None were buried or injured.

Additionally, people reported collapsing yesterday in Willow Fork, near Guardsman Pass, in Cardiff Fork, and in Georges Bowl. Collapsing is the exact process that causes a persistent slab avalanche to release, except the slope isn't steep enough to slide. Consider reports of collapsing just as important as hearing about recent avalanches.

Photos below of yesterday's Dry Fork avalanche

Find a full list of all recent avalanches here.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

It's been almost a week since the first of two storms overloaded the snowpack, yet persistent slab avalanches remain a problem because the bottom half of the snowpack consists of weak, faceted snow. Two avalanches and multiple reports of collapsing yesterday are sure signs that more avalanches can be triggered today. The exact nature of this avalanche problem is that it persists and doesn't go away. Photo below by M. White in Cardiff Fork shows cracking and collapsing of the snowpack that would have caused an avlanche if it occurred on a steeper slope.

HEADS UP - Increased winds today will find some snow to transport. Many slopes are ready to slide anyway and the slightest additional weight from wind driffted snow will make them extra sensitive today.

Unfortunately, the slopes with the best coverage are the ones where this avalanche problem exits. Since the snow is shallow and conditions are poor on slopes where this problem doesn't exist, the only option is to ride on low angle slopes (slopes less than 30 degrees in steepness). A few key points about this type of avalanche problem are:

  • Avalanches can be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from lower-angled terrain.
  • Tracks on a slope are zero indication of stability. The Dry Fork slide mentioned above was triggered by the fourth skier.
Additional Information

Temperatures today should warm into the 40's F near 8000 feet before a weak cold front brings clouds, increased winds, and just an inch or two of snow. Winds will blow mostly westerly at 15-25 mph with gusts of 45 mph. An inch or two may fall tonight as well if we're lucky. Another ridge of high pressure will begin building over Utah and bring dry and warm weather for next week.

General Announcements

FOR MORE GENERAL INFORMATION AND FAQ, CLICK HERE

Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at REI, Backcountry.com, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay a portion of your purchase will be donated to the FUAC. See our Donate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on eBay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your eBay account here and click on eBay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

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