Observation: Brighton Perimeter

Observation Date

4/2/2026

Observer Name

Region

Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Brighton Perimeter

Location Name or Route

Brighton Periphery

Weather

Sky

Overcast

Precipitation

Moderate Snowfall

Wind Direction

Northwest

Wind Speed

Strong

Weather Comments

Only a few brief periods of partial clearing with the majority of the time having overcast skies and continual snow showers. Snow rates ranged from S5 to at least S2 throughout the day with snow densities dropping after 1200. WNW winds were gusting even at low elevations and hitting Strong velocities in exposed mid and upper elevation terrain. Blowing Snow rates had periods of Intense with significant Transport as well as scouring. Morning temperatures continued to be in the upper 20's and were dropping significantly by the mid afternoon hours.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth

New Snow Density

Low

Snow Surface Conditions

Powder

Dense Loose

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Snow Characteristics Comments

Settled HST ramped up to at least 45cm by 1500 with the last 10cm being of light density. Riding was excellent in the right side up new snow with a surfy bottomless base.

Red Flags

Wind Loading

Cracking

Poor Snowpack Structure

Red Flags Comments

Poor Snowpack Structure confined to a potential weak layer 2.5cm above the pre-storm m/f (damp/wet) surface. Bonding was good at the interface with a density break of 4finger hardness directly above this thinly bonded/pre-storm surface. Structure above this was 10cm of 1finger. The new snow was trending less hard from this layer up to the surface with 10cm of fist at the surface. The only way this weakness might be of concern would be in wind loaded areas, and there was definitely enough Transport occurring to have built wind slabs up to at least 60cm or great in Specific areas. There does not appear to be enough weight on this weakness at this time to be an issue. There appeared to be avalanche debris in the runout of "Old Reliable", but the poor visibility limited any good observations.

Avalanche Problem #1

Problem

Wind Drifted Snow

Trend

Increasing Danger

Problem #1 Comments

See above, and at 1500 it the trend for this problems was still increasing with sustained wind velocities. This issue may/should be decreasing trend wise by tomorrow.

Avalanche Problem #2

Problem

New Snow

Trend

Same

Problem #2 Comments

Easily triggered Dry Loose in steep terrain confined to the latest round of light density snow (~10-15cm). This problem will likely be reactive in the early morning hours in steep terrain.

Wet Loose issues will Likely be Reactive when the sun comes out on Friday on any aspects/slopes receiving even short periods of solar.

The new snow appeared to have good stability, and beyond any wind loaded issues the Danger appeared to be Low.

Today's Observed Danger Rating

Moderate

Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating

Moderate

Coordinates

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