Forecast: Salt Lake Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Monday morning, April 26, 2021

For today, watch as the new snow starts to add up - new snow, long-running sluffs as well as soft slab avalanches, could be possible this morning. As the winds continue to blow at elevated speeds, be sure to look for and avoid fresh drifts of wind-blown snow. Human triggered avalanche will be possible, especially once the new snow starts adding up. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully; look for and avoid features of concern.

During the spring, we typically deal with three different avalanche problems:

1. Wet snow: Wet loose avalanches, wet slab avalanches, and lastly, glide avalanches.

2. New snow: New storm snow instability as soft slab avalanches and loose dry avalanches.

3. Wind Drifted Snow: Wind slabs - soft or hard drifts of wind-blown snow.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

Learn how to read the forecast here

Special Announcements

Regular avalanche forecasts with avalanche danger ratings have ended, and we will no longer be updating this page. We will continue to post all observations, so please keep submitting them as you get out in the mountains. Trent Meisenheimer will update the snow and weather by 7:00 am Tuesday, April 27th.

Weather and Snow

Roughly, 24 hrs ago, the southerly winds picked up, with many stations reporting speeds of 20-30 mph gusting into the 40's and 50's ahead of a moist spring storm. This morning the winds continue to blow from the southwest at speeds of 20-30 mph, gusting into the 30's and 40's across the upper elevation terrain. One station on the PC Ridgeline (10,000') is blowing 25-30 mph gusting into the 50's. Temperatures dipped below freezing overnight and are currently 24-31 °F above about 8,000'.

This morning snow should begin to fill in over the mountains of Northern Utah as a closed low currently sits over northwest Nevada. As this low tracks eastward, it will allow for precipitation for much of the day today. Unfortunately, this low digs too far south, and it will eventually cut off the moisture to Northern Utah in the overnight hours tonight. Winds will veer to the northwest later today and decrease in speeds to 10-15 mph. By the end of today, we could see anywhere from 5-10 inches of new snow with some locally higher amounts.

A full list of mountain weather stations can be found HERE.

Recent Avalanches

A list of all observations and avalanches can be found HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

We almost always get several winter-like snow storms in April and May. Treat each storm just like you would in winter. Avalanches can occur within the new snow typically from 1) low-density layers deposited during the storm, 2) high precipitation intensity during a storm, and 3) from wind slabs created during the storm.

It's easy to test the new snow as you travel by jumping on small test slopes to see if they avalanche or dig down with your hand to see how well the new snow is bonding. Snow can change dramatically in both space and time, so never let your guard down. Especially avoid any steep slope with recent wind deposits, which are almost always dangerous.

Practice the usual backcountry protocol, go one at a time, never travel above other people and practice all the usual risk reduction measures and low-risk travel rituals you learn in avalanche classes.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

It will be worth looking at the winds for each storm to find out which direction they have blown from and what direction they will be blowing for the day. Wind can rapidly load snow onto steep slopes, making those slopes more prone to avalanching. The wind drifted snow looks rounded and pillowy; it can sound hollow like a drum in some cases. If you see shooting cracks, it's a sign you may have hit a wind slab. Be sure to click on this link HERE (click on Wx Stations) and check upper elevation winds for speed and direction.

Additional Information

Learn what to watch for during spring avalanche conditions when the snow becomes wet with this video from the UAC.

Thanks to all of you who have sent observations this season. Crowd-sourcing is the most valuable information we get. Other avalanche centers all over the world are modeling our program. And special thanks to all the Utah avalanche professionals: ski areas, Utah Department of Transportation, guides, and educators, Powderbirds and Park City Powder Cats.

Thanks to Rusty Billingsley and the National Weather Service who provide office space, weather forecasting, tech support, and great company.

A special thanks to all of you who donate directly to the Utah Avalanche Center. We couldn't do this without your support.

Ski areas are closed, and each has a different uphill travel policy. Remember that areas open to uphill travel are no longer doing any avalanche mitigation work and must be treated as backcountry terrain.

Be sure to mark your calendars - join us for the 27th Annual Fall Party at Black Diamond on Thursday, September 10th, and the 13th Annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop at Mountain America Expo Center Saturday, November 6-7.

The Utah Avalanche Center is a partnership between the Forest Service and the non-profit Utah Avalanche Center. On the Forest Service side, thanks to unwavering support from our boss Renee Flanagan, Forest Supervisor Dave Whittekiend, the rest of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Brian Murdock of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, and the financial support from Chris Hartman of the Forest Service Intermountain Region. Two-thirds of the Utah Avalanche Center funding, along with the awareness and education programs, comes from the non-profit Utah Avalanche Center. Our forecast staff includes Director Mark Staples, Drew Hardesty, Toby Weed, Craig Gordon, Brett Kobernik, Eric Trenbeath, Trent Meisenheimer, and Nikki Champion. Our nonprofit staff includes Executive Director Chad Brackelsberg, Greg Gagne, Paige Pagnucco, Andy Nassetta, Hannah Whitney, and Christian Raguse. Our interns this year include Francine Mullen, Joey Manship, and McKinley Talty. Board of Directors Kate Bowman, Ted Roxbury, Michael Brill, Al Richards, Tyler Hansen, Nicole Sumner, Caitlin Hansen, Jacob Splan, Rich Mrazik, Eric Quilter, Kim Reid, Michael Shea, Dara Cohen, Sara Gibbs, TJ Kolanko, and Christian Schauf.

Direct funding comes from longtime partners, Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Utah Department of Transportation and Salt Lake County.

Generous support in the form of donated lift tickets and daily observations comes from Ski Utah, Alta, Brighton, Beaver Mountain, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, Snowbird, and Solitude.

Business sponsors who donate to the Utah Avalanche Center are too numerous to list here, but you can find them on our Sponsors Page.

General Announcements

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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.

Observations and Avalanches

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