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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Nikki Champion
Issued by Nikki Champion on
Sunday morning, April 13, 2025
The snowpack is generally stable, and avalanche danger is LOW this morning with Normal Caution advised. The main concern is wet loose avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes this afternoon as skies clear and temperatures rise. If you’re seeing rollerballs or the snow’s getting wet and unsupportable, it’s time to move off those slopes.
  • Cornices may be unstable and could collapse, potentially triggering slides on slopes below.
  • Roof avalanches remain a hazard. Keep people and pets clear of steep, snow-loaded roofs.
  • Glide avalanches are unpredictable and dangerous. Avoid known glide paths entirely.
Low avalanche danger does not mean "no avalanche danger". Stay flexible and be ready to adjust your plans as conditions change.
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Special Announcements
Motorized Users—Please consider taking this 5-minute survey to help researchers better understand avalanche education participation and safety preparedness. Responses are anonymous and confidential.
Our regular daily avalanche forecasts will end today Sunday, April 13. After that, we will issue updates when necessary and publish public observations until May 1.
Weather and Snow
This morning, there are a few clouds in the sky, and for the first time in several days, mountain temperatures have dipped below freezing. Trailheads are sitting in the low to mid 30s, with mountain temps in the mid to upper 20s. Westerly winds are gusting up to 40 miles per hour along some upper elevation ridgelines, with the highest peaks seeing gusts close to 60 mph.
Today, expect partly cloudy skies this morning with a chance for some light snow, which should clear out by the afternoon. Highs will reach the mid 40s. Winds will shift northwestly and stay elevated, averaging 10 to 20 miles per hour with gusts near 30 mph along upper elevation ridges and closer to 40 mph on the highest peaks.
Looking ahead, high pressure will build and bring a warming trend through the first half of the week. Cooler, more unsettled weather looks likely to return by the second half.
The final Week in Review is now available. I hope you’ve found this weekly product useful throughout the season and that it’s become a regular part of your planning.
Recent Avalanches
A few small wet loose avalanches were reported by ski patrol on south-facing terrain.
In Broads Fork, a large glide avalanche released on Blue Ice, between the Diving Board and the NE Couloir. It occurred around 11 AM on a northeast aspect at 10,000 feet.
See the recent avalanche list HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The snowpack is generally stable, and both natural and human-triggered avalanches are unlikely. Normal Caution applies when conditions are broadly safe and no specific avalanche problem dominates.
That said, "Normal Caution" does not mean green-light conditions. Keep assessing the snow and weather as you travel—terrain choice still matters, especially in isolated areas where you might encounter:
  • Wet Snow: Wet avalanches become more likely with direct sun and warming temperatures. Look for signs like pinwheels and rollerballs. Bottom line: Get out early and get home early. If the snow becomes wet, unsupportable, or unstable, avoid being on or beneath steep, sun-exposed slopes.
  • Cornices and Roof Avalanches: These remain a real hazard today. Give them a wide berth—whether you're above, below, or adjacent to them.
  • Glide Avalanches: These are still a concern in known trouble spots like Stairs Gulch, Broads Fork, Mill B South, and upper Porter Fork. Glide avalanches are full-depth, unpredictable, and often unsurvivable—best to avoid that terrain entirely.
  • Slide-for-life Conditions: Cooler temperatures this morning are causing previously damp surfaces to refreeze into hard, slick crusts. Self-arrest may be nearly impossible in these conditions. If you're traveling on steep, firm slopes, make sure your gear is sharp and your self-arrest skills are dialed.
General Announcements
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.
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