Forecast: Salt Lake Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Wednesday morning, January 8, 2025

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE at upper elevations and mid-elevation slopes facing west through north to east. Avalanches may be large and destructive, failing on a buried persistent weak layer 2–4+ feet deep, and potentially hundreds of feet wide. These avalanches can be triggered from a distance or below.

Watch for blowing and drifting snow today; avalanches triggered in the wind-drifted snow have the potential to step down deeper.

CONSIDERABLE means dangerous human-triggered avalanches are likely. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, make conservative decisions, and avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees with poor snow structure. Lower-angled slopes provide safer options with good riding and travel conditions.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Please join Craig Gordon this Thursday night, January 9th, from 6–8 PM at Mammut HQ for a state-of-the-snowpack. It's gonna be educational, it's bound to be informative... and sources on the street tell us it might even be entertaining! Get all the details HERE.

Weather and Snow

This Morning, skies are clear, and a temperature inversion is in place, with trailhead temperatures hovering around 1°F and ridgetop temperatures near 10°F. Winds are shifting from east-northeasterly to more northwesterly and decreasing, reaching around 20 mph at the highest ridgetops.

Today, Temperatures will rise into the upper 20s°F under mostly clear skies, with high clouds building this afternoon. Winds will increase, with northwesterly winds averaging 15–20 mph at mid-elevations and 15–30 mph on the highest ridgelines. Gusts at the highest peaks could reach up to 70 mph by late afternoon.

Overnight, little to no precipitation is expected, but strong, gusty northerly winds will accompany the storm this evening.

Outlook: Confidence is building in the incoming storm system this weekend. Water totals are expected to range from 0.25 inches to nearly 1 inch. Stay tuned for updates as we get closer.

Recent Avalanches

The backcountry was relatively quiet overall. Ski patrols triggered a 2–4' by 40' soft slab with explosives. Multiple reports also noted a large D3.5 natural avalanche on Cardiac Ridge (east aspect, 10,600'), spanning nearly 1,000 feet wide and running to the creek. The slide likely occurred within the past 24-36 hours, but the exact timing is unknown. Powderbirds captured an excellent photo of the event below.

Additionally, several shallow soft slabs were reported within the wind-drifted snow, including one on a Southeast aspect of Cardiff Bowl at 9,600'.

Photo of the Cardiac Ridge Avalanche - Powderbirds

Forecasters were out in the field yesterday, covering terrain from Provo to Salt Lake and up to Ogden. Take a look at the recent observations and avalanche reports to get a clear picture of current conditions across the range.

Observations and Avalanches

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The primary concern is triggering a large, unsurvivable hard slab avalanche on a persistent weak layer of faceted snow buried 2–5+ feet deep on mid- and upper-elevation slopes facing west through north to east. This weak layer formed early in the season and was primed by the Christmas storm, creating a more cohesive slab. The first avalanche of this cycle occurred on Christmas Eve, and since then, over 80 avalanches have been reported, though the actual number is likely in the hundreds.

These large, dangerous avalanches have released nearly every day, and it will take time for the snowpack to stabilize. While the likelihood of triggering one is gradually decreasing, the consequences remain just as high.

Though the likelihood and distribution align with a considerable danger, travel advice continues to trend higher. I’ll continue to avoid traveling on or under slopes steeper than 30° with this buried weak layer near the ground.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Easterly winds can be unpredictable across the Wasatch, leading to unusual avalanche conditions. Yesterday's elevated easterly winds, combined with incoming northwesterly winds, may continue to drift and form soft slabs of wind-drifted snow on upper elevations and leeward mid-elevation slopes.

Look for signs of wind-drifted snow, such as texture changes, pillow-shaped areas, or hollow spots, and avoid those slopes.

Strong winds coming off of Grandview Peak. Manship

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