An Avalanche Watch has been issued for the mountains of northern Utah. Strong winds and heavy snowfall will create an increasing avalanche danger today through Thursday. Both human triggered and natural avalanches are possible. Backcountry travelers need excellent terrain and snowpack evaluation skills and should avoid steep slopes and avalanche runout zones.

With continuing strong winds and heavy snowfall, the avalanche danger will rise to LEVEL 3 (CONSIDERABLE) on all steep, wind drifted slopes. During periods of intense snowfall and strong winds, such as around frontal passage early this afternoon, the danger could spike to LEVEL 4 (HIGH), with a natural avalanche cycle possible. On steep, wind sheltered slopes; the avalanche danger will rise more gradually.

Backcountry travelers should choose tours that emphasize travel on wind sheltered slopes less steep than 35 degrees, avoid travel below steep slopes, and have safe exits planned for the end of the day. Be ready to adjust your travel plans to the increasing avalanche danger, especially during periods of intense snowfall and strong winds.

Most people were ready for a fresh blanket of new powder for the New Year…and here it comes. Areas favored by southwest flow are stacking up the new snow fast this morning, with 8 to 10” of dense snow as of 6 am, containing over an inch of water weight. 2 to 6” have fallen elsewhere. The southerly winds picked up before midnight, and are downright brutal, with many stations averaging 25 to 40 mph, gusting to 60, and the highest peaks hitting gusts of 80 mph. Temperatures are near 20 at 10,000’.

No avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry yesterday, but heavy snowfall and strong winds spell a very different story today.

A moist flow will bring heavy snow to areas favored by southwest flow this morning, ahead of a strong cold front which should reach the Salt Lake area mountains early this afternoon. 12 to 18” of new snow is possible by evening in many areas of the northern Utah mountains favored by southwest flow, with other areas receiving 6 to 12”. Late this afternoon through tonight, favored areas will be reversed to that of northwest flow. General new snow totals of two feet are expected by Thursday morning, and the snow should be “right side up” for a change. Winds will remain strong all day, first from a southerly direction, then shifting to the northwest this afternoon. 25 to 35 mph averages will be common, with the highest terrain averaging closer to 40 mph, with gusts in the 60’s and 70’s. Temperatures will be in the upper teens to near 30. Snowfall will linger through Thursday and possibly into Friday, with mountain temperatures dropping to near zero.

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)

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Sundance, and Solitude have donated a limited number of tickets for sale.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flight plan.

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 click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (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 to uac@utahavalanchecenter.org

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