Boletín de aludes

Provo

Publicado el Dec 25, 2025válido hasta el Dec 26, 2025Utah Avalanche Center

Peligro de aludes

Alta montaña
Límite del bosque
Bajo el límite del bosque

Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 8 months ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on upper elevation slopes, where strong southerly winds and dense, heavy snow have formed slabs over buried persistent weak layers. On steep slopes facing West, North, and East, you can trigger a soft or hard slab avalanche breaking 1 to 2 feet deep and more than 100 feet wide.

A MODERATE avalanche danger exists elsewhere. Rain on snow up to 9,500 feet is weakening the snowpack and may produce wet loose or wet slab avalanches on steep slopes at mid and low elevations. These avalanches can have severe consequences in tight terrain features like creek walls and road banks. Be aware that this warming can also cause heavy snow to slide off roofs in mountain communities.

(Note that many solar aspects and low elevations have little to no snow)

Problemas de aludes

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta montaña
Límite del bosque
Bajo el límite del bosque
Probabilidad
Likely
Tamaño
2
The layer of faceted snow near the base of our snowpack is concerning. While we haven’t had a blockbuster storm recently, the snowpack feels the weight of the snow and wind that’s built slabs above since 12/17. The warm temperatures and strong winds have created dense, hard slabs that feel deceptively solid underfoot. The ‘bridging’ effect can lure you into steep terrain, only to fail when you hit a thinner or softer spot in the slab, collapsing the weak layer and releasing the thicker, harder slab above you.

Assessing sensitivity today is difficult. You might get clear warning signs like audible collapses, ‘whumphs’, or shooting cracks, which are undeniable signs of instability. However, the stiff slab may also shield the weak layer from collapsing and mask the danger.

We have limited observations from the backcountry. What we do know is that signs of instability are present: recent avalanches, collapsing, unstable test results, strong wind, warm temperatures, and dense snow are obvious signs that dangerous and tricky avalanche conditions are present.
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta montaña
Límite del bosque
Bajo el límite del bosque
Probabilidad
Possible
Tamaño
2
Soft and hard slabs of wind-blown snow continue to build on leeward slopes. These new drifts may be sensitive in steep terrain. Be mindful that small, isolated slabs may also form on southerly slopes; these drifts may not bond well to the underlying surfaces in steep terrain.

Nearly a week of strong southerly wind scoured available soft snow and redistributed it onto mid and upper elevations, incrementally adding weight to the faceted weak layer near the ground. Any surface wind slab triggered on slopes above 9,000 feet facing West, North, or East has the potential to "step down," resulting in a deeper and wider avalanche breaking on the buried persistent weak layer.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta montaña
Límite del bosque
Bajo el límite del bosque
Probabilidad
Possible
Tamaño
2
Overnight freezing temperatures rose to nearly 11,000 feet. Rain on snow is severely weakening the snowpack and creating unsupportable conditions. In these conditions, you may be able to trigger wet loose avalanches that gouge down to the ground, or wet slabs that fail on a moist faceted layer near the base of the snowpack.

Special Note for mountain communities: For residents in upper mountain communities where snow remains on roofs, warm temperatures and rain create a significant danger. Be aware that large amounts of heavy snow can slide off roofs unexpectedly.

Recent Activity

There were no reported avalanches yesterday in the Provo zone. Yesterday, 12/24, in the Central Wasatch, avalanche teams in Little Cottonwood Canyon triggered a wind-blown hard slab that failed on faceted snow near the ground. The avalanche broke up to 2 feet deep on a northeast-facing slope at 10,200 feet. You can find a similar problem in high, wind-exposed terrain today.

Find all recent observations HERE.

Snow and Weather

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Utah Avalanche Center to all of you!

Overnight, temperatures warmed into the upper 30s ˚F at 9000 ft. Precipitation moved in during the early evening hours, with the rain-snow line initially around 9000 feet and gradually rising closer to 9600 feet by midnight. 2 to 4 inches of wet, heavy snow fell above 9500 feet, with overall water numbers of 0.3 inches to 0.6 inches to 1.0 inch at the Timp Divide snotel station, clearly favoring the northern part of the zone near Timpanogos. Snow and water numbers are from lower elevation sites and may underestimate the amount of snow found in the high country. Winds are howling, blowing 25-40mph with gusts to +60mph from the southwest.

Today, the wind continues to blow from the southwest at 15-35 mph with gusts into the 60s along high, exposed peaks. 9000-foot temperatures gradually cool into the 20s ˚F as colder air moves in. Freezing level falls to 7000 feet by early evening. Light snow showers continue through the day with an additional 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday, another pulse of moisture moves through with colder temperatures and higher snow totals. We could see 8 to 18 inches of snowfall by Saturday morning.

General Announcements

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

Backcountry Emergency Procedures