Our Week in Review highlights significant snowfall, weather, and avalanche events of the previous week. (Click here to review the archived forecasts for the Salt Lake mountains.) 

The danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains from Friday Feb 8 through Thursday Feb 14:

Before we proceed with a summary of weather and avalanches, we sadly note that this past week we had two avalanche fatalities, bringing the number of avalanche fatalities this season in Utah to 4. The staff of the Utah Avalanche Center sends our sincere condolences to families and friends of Bradley Stapley and Jason Lyman.

On Thursday February 7, Bradley Stapley  was killed in an avalanche while snowmobiling on Circle Mountain in the Tushar mountains just east of Beaver, Utah. (Link to occurrence.) The video below describes this accident.

On Saturday February 9, Jason Lyman  was killed was snowmobiling in Chalk Creek in the western Uintas. The video below tells a very moving description by one of the members of the party involved.

Summary: Alternating periods of strong winds and two storms punctuate weather highlights. Approximate snow and water totals for the week include:

Friday February 8 - Strong southerly winds create large pockets of fresh wind drifts at mid and upper elevations. Numerous human-triggered and natural avalanches are reported, including Mineral Fork, upper Little Cottonwood, Mill B South, Brighton backcountry including Pioneer Ridge and Snake Creek. (Click on links) Photo below of control work from Cottonwood resort

Saturday February 9 - The day begins partly cloudy and windy, with snow filling in by late in the day. 3-6" of low-density snowfall, with almost 12" in upper Big Cottonwood Canyon. The only significant avalanche activity reported from the backcountry was a natural avalanche on Murdock Peak that likely ran overnight Saturday or early Sunday morning (observation). This was on a wind-loaded slope on a north aspect at 9600'.

Sunday February 10 - Strong cold front enters the central Wasatch mid-day on Sunday, bringing a period of heavy snowfall into early Monday morning. Sluffing in the storm snow, and a natural avalanche on east-facing Reynolds Peak from a cornice fall. 24-hour storm totals are 20" (1.25" water) in upper Little Cottonwood, 26" (1.5" water) in upper Big Cottonwood, and 12" (0.75" water) on Park City ridgeline.

 

Monday February 11 - Clear bluebird with southerly winds. Backcountry observations and control work at resorts only report shallow soft slabs and wind drifts with generally stable conditions. 

Tuesday February 12 - Increasingly strong winds from the south/southwest drift snow and increase the size of cornices. No backcountry avalanches are reported other than shallow wind drifts and sensitive cornices. Control work at a Cottonwood resort pulled out a very large slide just below 11,000’. This was on steep upper elevation NE aspect that had been wind-loaded. The crown was 8-10’ deep and it ran over 1000’ vertical. Many field observers note the wide distribution and large sizes of cornices.

Wednesday February 13 - Another wet and windy storm with very strong winds out of the south/southwest, gusting 50-70 mph, and 3-6" of heavy dense snow.