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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Nikki Champion
Issued by Nikki Champion on
Monday morning, December 7, 2020
Today, the avalanche danger is LOW. The main hazard is hitting a rock or stump or other obstacles because the snowpack is so thin. As well, watch for pockets of isolated wind slabs along upper elevation isolated terrain.
Remember a low avalanche danger, doesn’t mean “no avalanche danger”. Continue to evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
This week is the 2nd Annual Avalanche Awareness Week. We will be hosting avalanche awareness and education events across the state of Utah. Get a full schedule of events here.
Announcement: Please visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.

The holiday season is right around the corner!! Looking for that special something for your partner? or yourself?
Well, we've got an easy shopping solution for you...Buy your gifts at our Pray for Snow online auction.
Weather and Snow
This morning, skies are clear and there is another temperature inversion in the mountains. Trailhead temperatures are sitting in the mid 20s F while upper-elevations have already climbed to temperatures in the low 30s F. Overnight winds switched to northerly and were calm.
Currently, the mountains have roughly 1-2' of snow on the ground though many of the southerly aspects have melted to the ground. While most of the terrain is covered in sun and wind crusts, the best riding still lingers in cold areas of soft settled powder that is protected from the wind and sun.
Today, we'll see another day of sunny skies, light southerly wind, and warm temperatures in the mid-40s F.

The Weather Outlook: Essentially a ridge of high pressure has maintained control of the west, shunting storms well to the north; whereas a few storms lucky enough to squeak through have generally weakened and dived to the south. There are "hints" that the weather pattern may become more progressive around next Friday the 11th.
Recent Avalanches
No avalanches were reported from the backcountry yesterday.
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.
Please keep these excellent observations coming, as they will help us identify where the weak faceted snow is, and where the bare ground is, once we do get another large storm.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
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Likelihood
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Description
Today, the overall avalanche danger is LOW. This means that human-triggered avalanches are unlikely, but small avalanches in isolated areas are possible.
The main hazards are rocks and other obstacles that aren't covered or barely covered by the thin snowpack. You may be able to 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 shallow snowpack continues to weaken under the cold/clear skies through a process known as “faceting”. While this is not a concern now, once we get a large load of snow on top of it, the weak faceted snow will become a weak layer.
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
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.