Steve's Cottonwood Canyons
Weather DashboardTM
Updated December 3 @ 5:25 pm

Learn how you can have Alexa read this report to you.

Current Conditions

At 5:00 pm, the temperature near the top of Brighton's Crest chairlift was 16 degrees. Winds on Cardiff Peak are averaging 5 mph out of the north-northwest with gusts to 11. In the last 12 hours, the snow depth near the top of Brighton's Crest chairlift has decreased 1 inch. In the last 3 weeks, the depth has increased 9 inches.

Forecast Conditions

The forecast says that from 5:00 pm today until 5:00 am tomorrow, there is a 75 percent chance of a trace of snow and a 25 percent chance of a trace. The nighttime low temperature will be 14 degrees. And tomorrow, from 5:00 am until 5:00 pm, there is a 75 percent chance of a trace of snow and a 25 percent chance of a trace. The daytime high temperature will be 27 degrees.

Avalanche Forecast

The Utah Avalanche Center's avalanche forecast for the Salt Lake area on Wednesday, December 3, says, "Welcome to Winter 2025-2026. Today is our second day of issuing daily danger ratings. Be sure to check back in tomorrow. While most terrain is either at LOW or NO danger (due to the lack of snow on the ground), areas of MODERATE avalanche danger exist on shady (west-north-east facing) slopes above about 9000 feet. Here, you can trigger shallow soft slabs of snow 10-16 inches deep and up to 100 feet wide or long-running, gouging sluffs that can rag-doll you or bury you, particularly in terrain traps. Note that, particularly in wind-drifted terrain, it may be possible to trigger these soft slabs at a distance. The snowpack is thin with a weak base, and low tide hazards like shallowly-covered rocks, logs, and holes continue to be a concern. North-facing slopes hold the most snow and will look the best to ride, but they're also the most suspect. Southerly-facing slopes were mostly bare before this storm. Coverage is low to non-existent on aspects shown in grey on the danger rose, so keep that in mind and follow safe travel practices."

A UDOT backcountry closure alert for Little Cottonwood (LCC Full North Side) was updated on December 3 at 5:16 pm. The status is "closed". This applies to all terrain north of Little Cottonwood Creek from Gate B to Grizzly Gulch. Extends 100 feet over Twin Lakes Pass, and 1000 meters into Big Cottonwood. This alert starts on December 3 @ 10:00 pm and ends on December 4 @ 8:30 am. (details)