Observation Date
1/18/2026
Observer Name
Paradis
Region
Salt Lake » Park City Ridgeline
Location Name or Route
Park City Ridgeline
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
High pressure so warm aloft. I saw a guy wearing a tee-shirt today. No real wind at 9500 feet in normally a windy location.
Winds seem substantially higher along highest peaks with Hidden Peak averaging winds in the mid 20s. It's always windier there, of course but I'd expect a least a little wind elsewhere.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Mix of snow conditions. North and west slopes stayed soft even with a little sun. South aspects were getting damp by about noon.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
PWL seems quiet at this time with no results in snowpit tests or recently reported avalanches.
Surface hoar noted last week seems to have compressed into adjacent layers and is less sensitive in shovel tilt tests.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Problem #1 Comments
Pretty decent travel above 8500 but below that to about 7000 feet snow is very thin. The most significant hazard in these areas might be sticks and rocks.
Snow Profile
Aspect
North
Elevation
8,900'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments
Rain crust sandwich with adjacent facets produced ECTN. As noted in other observations surface snow is faceting and weak on north aspects, which will be a concern when/if it snows. We noted about 25 cms of settlement between the storms about more than a week ago and today.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates
