Pockets of Level 2 (MODERATE) exist on slopes over 35 degrees with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. They'll be more pronounced at the mid and upper elevation north through east through south facing slopes, though the strong wind channelling may load any number of lee terrain features. Remember that cornice drops and ski and slope cuts are rarely effective with hard wind drifts.

The first in a chain-link of storms arrived overnight and we're up to 2-4" of graupel and rimed snow in the central Wasatch. Areas to the north and south are up to a trace. Clearly it wan't enough to be punished by the north and easterly winds a couple days ago - now the freight-train screams in from the west and northwest. The high ridgelines suffer 45-50mph winds with gusts into the 70s. The more protected anemometers can't escape much of the wrath - Tom's Hill in BCC has gusts into the 20s. The mid-elevation terrain in the Ogden mountains have gusts into the 40s. Temps are in the mid to upper 20s. Riding conditions are fair in the most sheltered shady terrain, though the winds have likely scoured the exposed ridgelines - again - down to the now three week old rain crust.

No reports of interest in the backcountry. There will be after today.

Weren't we just in this weather pattern with the ridge of high pressure parked off to the west with occasional weather events riding down the backside on a northwest flow? Looks like Groundhog Day all over again. We'll see a bit more snow and wind through the morning, then tapering off by the afternoon. Temps will be in the mid 20s with the west to northwest winds blowing 40-50mph. The next hit of moisture fills back in tomorrow with a cold front expected Monday night. It all adds up to a refresh of snow through Tuesday. Confidence in snow totals is marginal - perhaps 8-14" by then.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake – Alta Central (801-742-2033)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Sundance, and Solitude have donated a limited number of tickets for sale.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flight plan.

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8.

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

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UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

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The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

We will update this forecast tomorrow morning. Thanks for calling.