SURVIVED? SNOW AND COLD

TL;DR: SURVIVED YESTERDAY? LIGHT SNOW ALL WEEKEND, COLD TEMPS CONTINUE

Nowcast:

Current conditions 9am MTN 2023-03-25 via https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/

Looks like a cold front came through and temps are below freezing in the city and down to single digits above 9,000 ft in the Canyons. Right now, winds are mostly from the west at 5 mph gusting to 11. 

Surface weather map shows high pressure parked east of Utah as it exits the state. Mountain-snow showers to weaken during the day as the system heads eastward. 

Surface Weather Chart via https://www.weather.gov/zid/surface

Short term: 

The GFS shows continued west/northwest flow as a low closes over southern Idaho. Looking at the 500 mb upper air chart to see steering flows: 

60 hr forecast from the GFS via https://www.pivotalweather.com/

Cold temperatures will continue and wring out some light snow showers through the day Saturday and Sunday through Monday morning. A couple of inches expected each day to continue building our record snowpack: 

Point-model output from the GFS for a spot in the Wasatch Mountains. Cold temps persist with cloudy conditions and light snow through Monday afternoon. A shift in conditions for Wednesday will bring more moderate temps and another pulse of snow. Via www.spotwx.com

Long term:

Jumping ahead to Wednesday - a low comes onshore around Northern California and this changes the flow pattern to come from the southwest. Warming temps could be a relief for those looking to thaw out and a mid-week snow-treat for the skiing and snowboarding crowds. 

Wind barbs showing a shift to SW flow over Utah starting Wednesday. With it, warmer temps and precipitation. 

Backcountry comments: 

LOTS of wind overnight and LOTS of snow caused havoc in the Canyons and the resorts yesterday. Big impact to the snowpack and expect increased hazard with the rapid change. 

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 here: Utah Avalanche Center