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Forecast for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Trent Meisenheimer
Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Monday morning, February 18, 2019
A MODERATE DANGER exists on heavily wind loaded slopes at the mid and upper elevations. The danger is most pronounced on upper elevation northerly through easterly facing terrain. Cornices are an issue - Exercise great caution along and underneath the heavily corniced ridgelines.
Safe Travel Protocols are critical: Beacon, shovel, probes, one at a time, get out of the way at the bottom, have a plan.
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Weather and Snow
Currently, there is a center of low pressure down in southern Utah that's spinning counter clockwise creating southeast winds and ushering in clouds to northern Utah. Overnight we picked up a trace to a few more inches of cold smoke as the clouds passing by spit and sputtered a few snowflakes. This morning the winds are from the southeast and are blowing 10-15 gusting into the 20's at upper elevations. Mountain temperatures are in the single digits. The riding and turning conditions are all time with cold dry powder on almost every aspect.
Recent Avalanches
Yesterday, there was a skier triggered slide off the north face of Pioneer Peak in Big Cottonwood Canyon. A snowboarder triggered the avalanche 12" inches deep and about 500' feet wide. He was caught and carried 1,000' feet down the slope going over a small cliff band. Luckily, they ended up on top of the snow and were uninjured. The group sent in an observation found HERE.
A list of recent avalanches from the weekend are below:
  • Guardsman Pass: 9,000' east facing - 2-3' deep and 200' wide (photo below). I visited the site yesterday and updated the accident page.
  • Clayton Peak: 10,000' NE - 1-3' deep and 300' wide, skier triggered.
  • Cardiac Bowl: 10,800' NNE - estimated 1' deep and 80' wide.
THANKS TO ALL FOR REPORTING INFORMATION: YOUR INFORMATION HELPS SAVE LIVES.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Yesterday's human triggered avalanche off Pioneer Peak, shows it's still possible to trigger soft and hard drifts of wind blown snow. Most of the avalanches reported over the past couple of days have been on steep, upper elevation, northerly through easterly facing terrain. I would continue to let the snow settle and heal up for another day or two before committing to large open faces.
Photo: The crown and trigger point from Pioneer Peak. (PC: Shearon)
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Human triggered large avalanches into much older snow layering 3-6' + deep are possible in isolated areas. In general, these avalanches probably need to be triggered by a heavy load such as a cornice fall, or a new snow avalanches stepping down to older layers. Or being unlucky enough in finding the thinner trigger spot in the slab. The recent avalanche from Guardsman Pass area (video below) shows this problem still exists and terrain that has avalanched previously (repeater slopes) or other thinner snowpack areas are not to be trusted.
Avalanche Problem #3
Cornice
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
CORNICES ARE ENORMOUS. Most of these are too large to intentionally drop onto a slope below. They will break back farther than you think, well back from the apex of the ridgeline. Exercise great caution along and underneath the heavily corniced ridgelines. (PC: Grainger)
Additional Information
The accident reports for the four avalanche fatalities are all finalized with some first-hand accounts and worth reading. We all have something to learn so that we can get home safely to our loved ones. List of all accidents found HERE.
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
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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