There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger for triggering both deep slab avalanches and new wind drifts. CONSIDERABLE is just one notch below HIGH, and means that dangerous avalanche conditions exist, and human triggered slides are likely. The slopes of concern are steep, mid and upper elevation slopes facing west through north through southeast, especially where wind drifted. Triggered slides could be 2 to 5 feet deep. If the snow gets damp where you are, avoid the steep slopes.

There is great powder for turning and riding on shady, upper elevation low angle slopes.

With more snow on the way, and strong winds around frontal passage, the avalanche danger will increase late this afternoon through overnight, especially in the mountains north of I-80. If you’re heading out early tomorrow, out early line (888-999-4019 option 8) is updated by 5 am.

Under a mild westerly flow, skies are partly cloudy and temperatures continue to be warm this morning, mostly in the low to upper twenties. The winds are in the process of shifting to the southwest, and have significantly decreased along the higher ridges – even the exposed stations are only averaging 10 to 20 mph, with gusts to 30 this morning.

There is still excellent riding, turning and snowshoeing in powder on low angle shady slopes at the higher elevations. Many of the sunny slopes are now crusted, and the snow got damp on all aspects in some low to mid elevation drainages, with reports of thin rain, rime and heat crusts.

No new backcountry avalanches were reported yesterday, though we now have information about 2 very close calls from Tuesday the 24th. A snowmobile triggered slide on Whiskey Hill in the Ogden area mountains, and a classic delayed release to the side of Square Top, probably triggered by skiers, which took out at least 10 sets of tracks (above photo, by Jeff Lonn). Details on our avalanche list. Ski area explosive control work in Big Cottonwood was still releasing full depth, 80’ wide avalanches, and one slide was remotely triggered from a ridge line.

Northern Utah will be under an increasingly moist southwest flow ahead of a Pacific cold front which will cross northern Utah this evening. Increasing clouds today, with snow starting before noon north of I-80, and this afternoon south of I-80. Temperatures will be very warm once again, in the upper 30’s at 8,000’ and near 30 at 10,000’. The southwesterly winds will be light today, until near frontal passage, when 3 to 6 hours of strong, southwest to northwesterly winds could occur. Over a foot of snow is possible north of I-80, and up to a foot south of I-80. Warm and dry for the weekend.

Salt Lake – Alta Central (801-742-2033)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8.

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

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UDOT canyon closures UDOTat (801) 975-4838

Wasatch Powderbird Guides does daily updates about where they'll be operating on this blog http://powderbird.blogspot.com/ .

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 by clicking HERE

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We will update this forecast tomorrow morning. Thanks for calling.