Light Snow - Weekend Potential - UAC Movie Night Announcement

TL;DR: Chances of Dust* on Crust (today), Saturday AM promising 

*Dust being light to minor snowfall accumulations. Real dust (the gritty stuff) tends to be a spring issue. 

Scroll to bottom for your invitation to the UAC movie night happening Jan 24

Nowcast:

Looking at observations around the Valley for 0930am Local / 1630 UTC: 

Surface temperatures with crudely drawn 35 and 40F temp 'contours', via https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?obs=true&wfo=slc

UofU Webcam looking SOUTH via Cameras

From KSLC/Airport: 

METAR: KSLC 201554Z 00000KT 7SM FEW065 BKN100 BKN180 03/01 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP167 T00280006 

Observed at 1600z (30 minutes ago) the winds are CALM (0 knots) with 7 mile visibility at the airport. Clouds are FEW, BROKEN, and BROKEN at 6500 ft, 10000 ft, and 18000 ft. Current temperatures are 3C (38F), dew point 1C (34F). 

Further uphill, Alta is 34F in the village with ridge top temps near 24F and winds blowing 14 kts (16 mph) from the SW. 

Alta - High Rustler Camera via https://www.alta.com/weather

The Inversion is breaking down and PM values around the valley have come down significantly: 

DAQ and UofU monitoring sites via Real-Time AQ

Looking to the sky (..from space): 

Stunning longwave infrared (IR) GOES-WEST imagery with data overlay courtesy https://weather.cod.edu/satrad/ 

Find Utah, on the far right side. The SW winds observed at Alta Ridgeline come from the SW flow observed from space. A low pressure system rotates west of the California coast and it's a taste of what's to come. 

Short term:

Single model output (HRRR) for LCC suggests 'clammy' conditions continue through today with a chance for moisture (<1") this afternoon. Light winds expected to continue from the SW. 

HRRR output for LCC Ridgeline courtesy www.spotwx.com

These calm/benign conditions will likely persist through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Before the coastal low pressure marches eastward into Utah we're "between systems" from the satellite loop above. 

Another spot-forecast (this time HRDPS) for LCC shows the 'quiescent' period until Saturday when that low pressure meets the Wasatch range. Valley inversion could setup again briefly Th/Fr before a cleansing this weekend.

Long term:

Ensemble predictions have a deca-inch of snow (how's that for mixing metric and imperial units?) starting Saturday morning.. come back to the blog and see how this plays out. Cold air will enter the region dropping temps with this system:  

Ensemble Plume Predictions courtesy weather.utah.edu

Backcountry comments:

Light dusting of snow yesterday and is likely covering the stagnant surface crust which has taken a solar-beating the last few days. Surface hoar and radiation recrystallization and prior winds have made for variable skiing and riding surface conditions. This mixed bag of surface/crust/"stuff" will have a hard time bonding with new snow precipitation that could happen this weekend. 

Avalanche conditions are currently 'low low low' for SLC, however be mindful of the shallow snowback and deeper snowpack layers.   

If you travel in the backcountry make sure you have the proper equipment and know before you go. For the avalanche forecast and all things avalanche, head over to our friends at the Utah Avalanche Center here: Utah Avalanche Center

SKI MOVIE PROMOTION - Jan 24 - UofU Campus

The UAC will be screening a production of 'To the Hills and Back' on January 24th at the UofU campus. Great event for new and experienced mountain-enthusiasts to gather, meet fellow skiers, chat with the UAC, and learn about the post-avalanche experience. 

Tickets available here: https://store.utahavalanchecenter.org/collections/events-1/products/to-the-hills-and-back-x-colin

Thank You Claire, Francine and Chad to help make this happen