We are deeply saddened to report an avalanche fatality in East Bowl of Silverfork in the Salt Lake Area Mountains on Saturday. We will provide a full accident report in the coming days.

24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 2" Season Total Snow: 65" Depth at Gold Basin: 28"

It looks like we are finally going to get some snow and it should be a good amount. Currently, things are calm before the storm. Skies are clear, temperatures are in the single digits, and southwest winds are blowing 10-15 mph along ridgetops. Look for increasing southwest winds and clouds developing later this afternoon as a powerful atmospheric river moves in from California. Deep moisture on southwesterly flow will begin to deliver heavy snow after sundown and it looks like it's going to be a wild night up there. Up to a foot of snow seems likely by Friday morning with continued snowfall throughout the day. 12-18 inches seem likely from this event although some models are calling for more.

For today, there isn't much change in conditions. By now you know that after more than a month without significant snowfall, the entire snowpack on shady aspects near treeline and below consists of weak, faceted snow. Above treeline, surfaces are wind hardened, textured, or scoured down to the rocks. In simple terms, we have a variety of weak and slick surfaces and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that by adding a load of snow, we'll have unstable conditions. Ryan Huels was out and about yesterday, and he provides more details in this excellent observation.

Conditions above treeline. Ryan Huels photo.