Forecast: Salt Lake Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Greg Gagne on
Friday morning, January 10, 2025

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on mid and upper-elevation slopes facing west, north, and east where there is a buried persistent weak layer. Avalanches may be 2-4+ feet deep and potentially hundreds of feet wide. Low-elevation northerly-facing slopes and mid and upper-elevation southerly-facing slopes have a MODERATE danger.

Sensitive slabs of wind-drifted snow may be found on all aspects at the mid and upper elevations.

Slopes less steep than 30° offer safer - and excellent - travel and riding conditions.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Please avoid the MacDonald Draw area along the Park City Ridgeline as the Canyons/PCMR perform avalanche control work in this area this morning.

Weather and Snow

This Morning: Temperatures are 10-15° F and winds are from the northwest, with 10,000' winds averaging in the teens with gusts in the 20's mph. Wind speeds along the highest ridges and summits are averaging in the 20's with gusts in the upper 30's mph. Despite wind and cold temperatures over the past two days, many southerly slopes now have a thin sun crust.

Today: Mostly sunny skies with increasing clouds this afternoon and temperatures ranging through the 20's F. Winds will be from the northwest and gradually increasing through the day, with 10,000' winds gusting in the upper 20's mph and 11,000' winds gusting into the 40's mph.

This Weekend: Snow will begin this evening with heavy snowfall and strong winds overnight and into Saturday morning. Snow showers may linger into Sunday, with snow totals possibly exceeding a foot in the upper Cottonwoods.

Recent Avalanches

Other than some small, wet loose avalanches on steep sunny aspects, no avalanches were reported from the backcountry on Thursday. Mark White was traveling in Broads Fork on Thursday and noted some fresh avalanches that may have been triggered from recent northeast/east winds. Control work at local resorts continue to produce avalanches failing in the persistent weak layer.

Check recent observations and avalanche reports to get a better understanding of current conditions across the Central Wasatch.

Observations and Avalanches

Nikki's Week in Review which summarizes significant avalanche and weather activity over the past week is available.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The persistent weak layer (PWL) slowly continues to gain strength and it is getting more difficult to trigger avalanches. Although the last reported avalanche failing on the PWL was on Tuesday on Cardiac Ridge, we continue to hear reports of collapsing on the PWL, and snow safety teams at nearby resorts are still getting avalanches 2-4 feet deep. The type of terrain you are more likely to trigger an avalanche failing on the PWL is thinner snowpack areas such as:

- mid-elevations (particularly between 8,000 - 9,000') where there is simply less snow;

- steep, rocky areas;

- slopes that have already avalanched (aka "repeater" slopes) and have partially filled in.

If you trigger an avalanche in one of these thinner snowpack areas, it could propagate widely and up to 5 feet deep.

Trend: With more wind and snow forecast, increasing danger.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Recent winds from the northeast/east and today's increasing winds out of the northwest will create soft and hard slabs of wind-drifted snow. Some of these drifts may be sensitive if they form on top of sun crusts or weak snow at the surface. On mid and upper-elevation slopes facing west, north, or east, any avalanches involving fresh wind drifts may step down to the buried PWL.

Thursday's northeast/east winds (photo: Mark Johnston)

Additional Information

The accident reports for the Porter Fork and Davenport Hill Accident have been completed. You can read them HERE.

At the Utah Avalanche Center, we strive to learn from every avalanche incident and share insights to help others avoid similar accidents. We have all experienced close calls and understand how easily mistakes can happen. Our goal with these reports is to provide valuable learning opportunities.

General Announcements

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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures