Forecast: Salt Lake Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Drew Hardesty on
Sunday morning, January 15, 2023

The avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE today in areas that receive the most snow and wind. If you are heading into the upper elevations, human triggered avalanches will be likely. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making will be essential.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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There have been wildlife sightings, including a Momma moose with two calves in Mill D North and another family in Butler Fork. Although we all have appreciated the bountiful snowfall this winter, it has been hard on wildlife. Please be respectful of any wildlife you are fortunate enough to encounter by giving them a wide berth.

Weather and Snow

Another Pacific storm. Another powder day.

Mountain temperatures are in the upper teens to low 20s. Winds are from the southeast, blowing 15mph with gust to 20mph. The most exposed anemometers (found along the southern end of the Park City ridgeline) have hourly averages of 25-35mph with gusts to 40. As of 5am, snow totals are 8-12" in LCC, 4-8" in BCC and PC. Densities are 5-7%.

Riding conditions will only keep improving as we should see an additional 4-8" of lowering density snow through early evening. Winds will move from the southeast to the northwest and be light to moderate. Temps will be in the upper teens to low 20s.

Another storm system arrives later Monday into Tuesday that should provide an additional 6-10" of snow. A weaker storm follows on Friday.

Recent Avalanches

No new avalanches were reported from the backcountry yesterday.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Early reports from the ski areas this morning are of heightened sensitivity within the new snow.

You will be able to trigger soft slabs and loose dry sluffs in the new snow today, particularly during periods of higher snowfall rates. Ski cuts will be effective mitigation tools for experienced practitioners. Watch for cracking within the new snow for signs of instability in the mid and upper elevations.

IF you get caught in an avalanche today, where will you end up?

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Today, you'll find shallow sensitive soft slabs of wind driven snow, particularly in the upper elevations and along the Park City ridgeline (prone to southerly winds). Drifts will be more prevalent on west to north to easterly facing aspects. These soft slabs may crack out upon approach.

Continue to give the growing cornices a wide berth.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The mid week storm produced many large hard slab natural avalanches failing on our persistent weak layer of facets (PWL) from mid-November. Many of these avalanches were 4-6' deep....and upwards of 10' deep in heavily wind loaded terrain. The PWL is so deeply buried that it would require a significant trigger (large cornice, multiple people on a slope, powerful storm) to avalanche. For skiers and riders, it may require finding a thinner snowpack area (4' deep or less) to trigger one of these avalanches.

The trend is toward stabilization and I suspect we will remove this as an avalanche problem soon.

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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.

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