The avalanche danger is generally MODERATE today. Fresh wind drifts and large sluffs on the steeper slopes are the main concern. My personal “pucker factor” isn’t all that high today as I find it’s easy to not get caught in the sluffs. The biggest concern is a fresh wind drift roughing you up through rocks or trees in the mid and upper elevations.

Temperatures are in the mid 20s to low 30s . The winds increased to moderate speeds overnight from the northwest. From 1945 to present, we’re holding steady in 4th place for worst “year to date” snowfall.

No significant avalanche activity was reported from Christmas. Large sluffs gouging into the weak snowpack and entraining snow continues to be a common theme in backcountry observations.

Even though we’re seeing a change in the weather pattern, I don’t see anything to get excited about as far as giving us any significant snow, just wind and light accumulations. Today we’ll see partly cloudy skies with moderate speed northwest winds which should decrease slightly as the day goes on. High temperatures should get into the low to mid 30s at 8000 feet and upper 20s along the ridges.

A faster westerly flow will produce some disturbances through the week but it looks like they’ll just graze extreme northern Utah for the most part. As it looks now, this should start later on Wednesday and continue into Saturday. There will probably be enough wind and new snow to bump the avalanche danger slightly later in the week.

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)

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

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail clickHERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOTat (801) 975-4838

You have the opportunity to participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email by clickingHERE

Donate to your favorite non-profit –The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

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