- Forecasters warn of rising avalanche danger in Utah due to upcoming storms.
- Greg Gagne highlights atypical snowpack conditions that increase avalanche risks in northern Utah.
- The Utah Avalanche Center advises avoiding slopes over 30 degrees and using safety equipment.
SALT LAKE CITY — Forecasters warned Utahns Monday about "rapidly increasing" avalanche danger in the days ahead, with multiple storms promising to dump significant snow in Utah's mountains.
"I do know it's going to be a rising avalanche danger, and it will be dangerous avalanche conditions," said Greg Gagne, forecaster with the U.S. Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center.
Gagne said three storms were expected to hit northern Utah over the next week.
"We have a storm coming in tonight into Tuesday — lot of snow, lot of water weight, lot of wind," Gagne said, pointing to additional opportunities for snow Wednesday into Thursday and early next week.
Gagne said though the winter had been "frustrating" so far, there was still about 3 to 4 feet of snow on northerly facing slopes at mid- to- higher elevations.
"It's turned into this weak, unsupportable layer," Gagne said. "When we put snow on top — wind-loaded snow on top — we are going to see avalanches, both natural and human-triggered."
He said the additional concern was because it has been an atypical year, the snow will behave atypically.
"When you have unusual weather like we've had this winter, you're not going to have conventional avalanche conditions, so all the forecasters statewide, we're really uneasy about our current snowpack structure," Gagne said. "Rules in the past don't necessarily apply this winter because it's been so unusual."
Related:
Warnings, advisories issued in Utah's mountains; heaviest valley snow of this winter possible
An incoming storm could dump multiple feet of snow in Utah's mountains by midweek, and potentially some snow in the valleys.As the Utah Avalanche Center issued an avalanche watch for the days ahead, forecasters reminded people to avoid being on or under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
They also cautioned people never to go into the backcountry alone, and that once they leave resort boundaries, they could immediately find themselves in avalanche-prone terrain.
As always, they urged people to take the proper equipment into the backcountry, including a transceiver, probe and shovel, and to know how to use those devices.
Meanwhile, Presidents' Day skiers and snowboarders were optimistic about the snow expected in the mountains.
"I saw, like, 30 inches is projected in the Cottonwoods," said Aiden Rich, a snowboarder who had already managed to ski 28 days in the anemic 2025-26 winter season. "(I'm) definitely going to be going up a lot, checking that out, enjoying that. (I'm) looking forward to that."
