A dusting tonight and another storm that looks tight.

TL;DR: 

    With large snow totals yesterday, a dusting tonight, and another storm on Monday this weekend is producing amazing skiing conditions. Hitting the Cottonwoods is a must this weekend. 

Nowcast:

Base of Alta 8:20 AM via Alta Lodge

    It's currently 17F at the base of Alta. Temperatures will warm up to the high 20's before dropping back down because of a frontal passage. There are SSW winds today, the winds are starting off light in the morning and increasing in speed in later in the day . Clouds moved in early this morning and it should be overcast for most of the day. A closed off low is sitting off the coast of California and has the potential to bring 1-2” of snow to the Wasatch today, starting at 4-5PM. I’m airing on snow totals closer to 1”, because of the lack of moisture in the storm. 

Frontal passage at about 4 PM MST. U of U Atmos

Short-term: 

    Cold-ish temperatures will continue throughout the weekend. No reason to bring out a parka. Dress normally for a ski day and you will be alright.  The low off the coast of California is going to drop south and has the potential to bring moisture to the Wasatch, which would be a small to medium refresh of soft snow in the mountains. The storm will be starting late Sunday night and continuing into Monday. It is also possible for the trough to drop too low and the geostrophic flow, which brings moisture from the coast of California, could completely miss us. 

Potential track of moisture from the coast of California. U of U ATMOS

The motion of this closed-off low could be a limiting factor of storm totals on Monday. I’d keep an eye on this storm and see how it progresses over the weekend. 

U of U ATMOS

Long term:

    After Monday, we may pick up a few more inches later in the week by the lingering low pressure.  There is a possibility of another refresh at the end of next week. 

Backcountry Comments:

    Yesterday there were several natural and human triggered avalanches. Wind-loading, persistent weak layer, and storm slab all allowed several avalanches to be up to 3' deep and 200' wide. 

If you will be traveling in the backcountry make sure you have the proper equipment and know before you go. For the whole avalanche forecast and all things avalanche head over to our friends at the Utah Avalanche Center