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LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON — Little Cottonwood Canyon was closed throughout the night and into Monday morning due to avalanche danger. The canyon reopened about 10:15 a.m. Monday and the interlodge at Snowbird was lifted.
However, the Snowbird ski lifts remained closed until about midday due to high winds and continued avalanche migration, the resort announced on X, formerly Twitter, and then opened "with limited lifts & terrain." Snowbird says wind gusts up to 110 mph were recorded Monday morning. Likewise, Deer Valley Ski Resort announced Monday that "due to high winds, the resort will have a delayed opening this morning."
Winter storm warnings will remain in effect until Monday afternoon, with high winds and additional snow accumulations up 12 inches in the valley and up to 20 inches in the upper Cottonwoods, the National Weather Service advised.
Backcountry Closure, LCC Full North Side, (1/14) 4:00 PM tonight to 10:00 AM 1/15, Gate B to Grizzly@UACwasatch@utavy@UDOTcottonwoods
— UDOT Avalanche (@UDOTavy) January 15, 2024
@utavyobs pic.twitter.com/VAY2QHPF4G
Two to 5 inches was expected in the Wasatch Back areas of Park City, Heber City and Huntsville. Utah should see a break in storm systems Tuesday, though temperatures will drop, with additional snow possible later this week.
Heavy snow totals and continued winter storm warnings prompted avalanche warnings and road closures across Utah's Wasatch Front, and beyond. Utah Avalanche Center warned Sunday that avalanche conditions were "extreme" and "extraordinarily dangerous." The center said natural and human-triggered avalanches are "certain" and "deadly and dangerous" conditions exist on all aspects and elevations.
Avalanche warnings were in effect until early Monday, according to officials.
Conditions were considered extreme in Logan, Ogden, the Unitas, Salt Lake County, Provo and Skyline. While conditions in Moab were rated as considerable.
Powder Mountain Resort and Snowbird announced they would not open Sunday due to the conditions.
"We're happy to see the snow but with severe weather comes dangerous conditions. We received 14 inches of heavy snow overnight, on top of 66 inches of lighter-density snow from the past six days," Powder Mountain posted on Instagram. "Our snow safety team further made the decision to close the resort for the safety of our guests and team."
🚧 #SR210 CLOSED for avalanche mitigation.
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) January 14, 2024
‼️PLAN WISELY: No ETO to @AltaCentral@AltaAlerts@SnowbirdAlerts.
✅ Don't block neighborhood access
✅ Don't stop in intersections & in front of driveways
✅ Avoid idling pic.twitter.com/mHkfyUd7iv
State Route 158 to Powder Mountain was closed by the Utah Department of Transportation early Sunday after several natural avalanches covered the road. Other road closures due to the weather or avalanche control include I-189 near Canyon View Park; state Route 92, in both directions from Sundance Resort to the junction at the north side corner of Provo Canyon; state Route 210 in both directions, state Route 143 near Brian Head.
🚧#RoadClosureUpdate🚧#SR210 CLOSED: @UDOTAvy & @UtahDOT road operations made good progress on mitigation & clearing debris from slides that crossed road.
— UDOT Cottonwood Canyons (@UDOTcottonwoods) January 15, 2024
‼️ETO: 10am (1/15)
‼️Don't block @CHCity@sandycityutah neighborhoods waiting for @AltaCentral@AltaAlerts@SnowbirdAlertspic.twitter.com/Mf4d1Qi6lP
The town of Alta was placed under interlodge Sunday afternoon, which happens when snow levels are so great and avalanche danger is so extreme that patrons and employees are confined to resort buildings and homes while avalanche work is done. During interlodge, road access is shut down, as well.
Ski resort snow totals as of early Monday, with new snow in inches from previous 24 hours and the base:
- Alta 20/102
- Beaver Mountain 5/63
- Brian Head 1/39
- Brighton 10/80
- Cherry Peak 8/53
- Deer Valley 21/64
- Eagle Point 7/36
- Nordic Valley 3/39
- Park City 13/73
- Powder Mountain 6/69
- Snowbasin 3/85
- Snowbird 13/72
- Solitude 13/66
- Sundance 6/57
- Woodward 8/40
