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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Greg Gagne
Issued by Greg Gagne on
Friday morning, December 4, 2020
Today the avalanche danger is LOW on all aspects and elevations. Danger ratings are based on the North American Public Danger Scale and defined by three categories: (1) Travel Advice, (2) Likelihood of Avalanches, and (3) Avalanche Size and Distribution. LOW danger is defined as follows:
Travel Advice: Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
Likelihood of Avalanches: Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.
Avalanche Size and distribution: Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.
Low
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Special Announcements
Announcement: Please visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.
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Well, we've got an easy shopping solution for you...Buy your gifts at our Pray for Snow online auction.
Weather and Snow
Skies are clear and temperatures are in the upper 20s F - rather balmy for early December. Winds are from the N/NW:
- below about 10,000' : less than 10 mph;
- between about 10-11,000' : gusting into the teens;
- 11,000' : gusts into the 20's mph.
For today temperatures will rise into the low to mid 30's under (yet again) clear skies. Winds will remain northerly with gusts in the teens at mid-elevations, and 20's mph along the ridgelines at the uppermost elevation elevations.
Total snowfall for November at the Alta Guard Station was 51 inches (3.88 inches of water). The average is 68 inches of snow (6.4 inches of water).
Recent Avalanches
No avalanches were reported from the backcountry on Thursday, although observations from Wednesday and Thursday indicate isolated pockets of recent wind drifts up to 4" in open alpine terrain.
Despite the lean conditions, we continue to receive excellent observations from the backcountry. These are worth paying attention to as they are highlighting are rapidly-weakening snowpack.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
You may find an isolated pocket of wind-drifted snow in exposed, upper-elevation terrain. Although these would be small, the consequences of hitting an exposed hazard such as a rock or downed tree could be substantial.
Our meager early December snowpack measures 1-2' deep at best, and is continuing to weaken under the cold/clear skies through "faceting" - a process that weakens the snow as each clear and cold day rolls by.
Trent produced an excellent video that describes this process and how it is impacting the snowpack structure. For now, it is not a concern, but it will be once we get a load of snow on top. If you know someone new to the backcountry or someone in their first few years of BC riding, please try and share the message that we have a very dangerous snowpack set up in Utah, and when it snows, we will see deadly avalanches.
Additional Information
The beautiful weather forecasted for the weekend provides an ideal time to get out and practice with your rescue gear! Work on beacon drills, probing, and strategic shoveling. Push yourself - and your partners - to improve these important rescue skills.
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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