Avalanche danger to remain “considerable” across Utah, forecaster says
Feb 9, 2025, 9:00 AM
Salt Lake County Search and Rescue responds to an avalanche fatality in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (KSL TV)
(KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Avalanche Center forecasters said the risk of more slides will remain considerable after an active weekend for avalanches across the state.
They recorded at least 13 avalanches in Utah on Saturday, one of them fatal, according to avalanche forecaster Greg Gagne. That could be the tip of the iceberg.
“That’s a lot of avalanches,” Gagne said. “We always know that the number’s, in fact, much higher than that . . . because not every avalanche is reported, and there are some natural avalanches as well, likely.”
Related: Avalanche at Dutch Draw buries skier, quickly rescued
The fatal avalanche occurred Saturday in Big Cottonwood Canyon’s Silver Fork area. The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office said one person was buried and killed, but a second was rescued with a leg injury. Both had avalanche beacons with them.
Two skiers skied out of another slide in the Dutch Draw area near Park City. Those skiers were able to dig out a third person who was caught up in the avalanche.
Gagne expected the avalanche risk to persist for a bit longer.
“We’re going to be continuing with a considerable avalanche danger, which means human-triggered avalanches are likely,” Gagne said. “The avalanche danger yesterday was also considerable, and the kind of avalanche danger that we’re dealing with right now is that — it’s not one that’s going to lower quickly.”
Gagne also said recent winter storms have affected the odds of an avalanche happening.
“You know, sometimes after we have storms, (avalanche danger) can be considerable or high one day, and then trend to moderate or low within a day or two. But right now, the avalanche danger that we’re dealing with — we call it a persistent weak layer. So Friday’s storm snow fell on top of very weak snow surface in some areas, and it’s just one of these avalanche dangers that persists for some time. I expect that we’re going to be at considerable danger for at least another day or two before we even consider lowering it.”
Related: What you need to know about avalanche safety in Utah
Gagne said backcountry enthusiasts need to make sure they are prepared for the risk with both knowledge and safety gear.
“If they do enter avalanche terrain, they really have to assess the stability of the slope, look for these deeper buried layers,” Gagne added. “And if people don’t have the skills to assess the stability of the slope, probably advising them to avoid avalanche terrain. So that’s staying off of and out from underneath slopes of 30 degrees or steeper.”
Gagne recommends people check the Utah Avalanche Center website before heading out for the latest conditions and forecasts. The forecasters update those forecasts and conditions every day, seven days a week, before 7 a.m. They also maintain a telephone hotline with the latest forecast at 1-888-999-4019.
Becky Bruce is the news director for KSL NewsRadio.
