Utah ski areas went from 60-degree, spring-like days to mid-winter conditions in a blink over the past few days. Locals see it as a complete 180. 

It was one of the stormiest weeks of the season. A raging cycle blanketed resorts Monday, March 23, ,continuing through Thursday, March 26, slamming areas with fine Utah powder. Though the storm effected everyone, the biggest dumps were seen in Little Cottonwood Canyon, where Alta and Snowbird saw more than 60 inches of the "Greatest Snow on Earth". In addition, Brighton reported 41 inches and Alta, 40 inches in just the past 48 hours. The Park City resorts finally joined in the celebration when 21-27 inches dropped on them in the same time frame. 

The nearly four feet of new snow that came in swiftly since Wednesday, coupled with strong winds, have bumped up the avalanche danger to "high." In other words, both natural and human triggered avalanches are almost certain to occur on steep slopes. The word this weekend is to stay out of the backcountry. Besides, the inbounds action is nearly as good right now.

The recent snowfall pushed the current snow total this season to 507 inches (breaking the average annual snowfall total of 500") and jacked up resort base depths as high as 145 inches. This is not PR spin or hype. It truly is epic right now on the hills with low crowds and February-like conditions of light, fluffy, often untracked, off-piste trails. As this latest storm has moved on to torment Colorado, Friday's weather calls for warmer temps and partly cloudy skies. However, another major system presently bearing down on the Pacific Northwest, is scheduled to arrive in Utah Sunday.

You can track the avalanche situation online.