Lawinenlagebericht

Provo

Veröffentlicht am Mar 11, 2020gültig bis Mar 12, 2020Utah Avalanche Center

Lawinengefahr

Hochgebirge
Waldgrenze
Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 6 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

A lot of terrain has a LOW avalanche danger. Areas of MODERATE danger, however, do exist for wind drifts in (but not limited to) the upper elevations. These will be most pronounced on steep northwest to northeast to south-facing slopes. Keep an eye on the southerly facing terrain for wet snow avalanches if the cloud cover dissipates, and the intense March sun becomes stronger than forecasted.

Lawinenprobleme

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Hochgebirge
Waldgrenze
Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
Wahrscheinlichkeit
Possible
Größe
2
Continued winds overnight will keep a mention of wind drifted snow primarily along the higher elevation bands as well as a few pockets of wind drifts just to the lee of some mid-elevation ridgelines. These wind slabs may be up to a foot deep and 100' wide and reactive to cornice drops and slope cuts. Yesterday's recent avalanche in the Provo Area is an excellent example of this problem.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Hochgebirge
Waldgrenze
Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
Wahrscheinlichkeit
Unlikely
Größe
1
Wet snow avalanches can be exceptionally challenging to forecast, particularly with variable cloud cover. The good news is this problem is easily managed by paying attention to the snow you're riding on. If the snow is dry (powder) or frozen, then there is no problem, and you should turn your focus to wind drifted snow.

If the snow is damp and wet, then it's time to look for pinwheels, and rollerballs cascading down. If you see this, it's probably time to change your aspect to more northerly facing (colder) terrain where there are no wet snow issues. Wet avalanches may also be possible in the low - approaching mid elevation - shady slopes due to marginal cooling.

Special Announcement

Join The Utah Avalanche Center at Backcountry HQ on March 12th as Craig Gordon leads an interactive discussion on current Wasatch snowpack conditions, a recap of this season’s close calls and accidents, how to stay on the right side of the fracture line, and predictions for the rest of the season. Space is limited, registration is required. Register HERE.

Recent Activity

We had one report of a human triggered avalanche from the Provo Area mountains on a NE facing slope in Upper Big Springs (Photo below). This wind slab avalanche was 20'-40' feet wide and about a foot deep. Nobody caught. The intense sun yesterday produced many small wet loose avalanches on the southerly facing terrain.

Snow and Weather

Under mostly clear skies, the mountain temperatures bottomed out in the mid 20's °F allowing the snow to have a very shallow re-freeze at the mid to lower elevations. Winds overnight backed to the southwest and are currently blowing 10-15 mph gusting into the mid and upper 20's at ridgeline.

For today, we will see increasing clouds streaming overhead as a closed low off the coast of California ejects moisture ahead of the storm. Winds will remain from the southwest for much of the day at speeds of 10-20 mph across the upper elevations. The sky cover will vary a lot today with filtered sun, partly cloudy, to cloudy skies at times. It is spring after all. This afternoon a shallow cold front will cross into northern Utah around 3:00 pm; winds will veer north and bring some snow showers to the mountains with 1 to 4 inches of new snow possible. Next week could be the return to winter. Stay tuned

General Announcements

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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Observations and Avalanches

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