Avalanche forecast

Provo

Issued Apr 1, 2022valid to Apr 2, 2022Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Hello April! Today the avalanche danger is LOW on all aspects and elevations. Cold temperatures overnight and two days of solid refreezes of the snowpack have made avalanches unlikely as long as the snow doesn't heat up too much today.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely
Size
3
The buried persistent weak layer (PWL) has become a damp layer of rounding facets. It's more like a layer of soft snow underneath very firm and refrozen snow. Triggering an avalanche on this layer isn't impossible but will be unlikely especially with such refrozen snow on top.

In the future, this layer could make wet avalanches when the snow begins melting again and liquid water percolates down through the snowpack, but I don't think it will be a concern today. Local guide and avalanche pro, Tyson Bradley, found this layer in Days Fork yesterday and had similar thoughts - we won't be triggering avalanches on this layer now, but it may come to life again before spring is over.

Video from Nikki's field day in Upper Big Cottonwood Canyon on Wednesday. What she found mirrored what I saw in the Uintas on Thursday in this video.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely
Size
1
The snow is solidly refrozen this morning, but there could be a few small, wet loose avalanches as Tuesday's snow warms today. Likely areas for these small point releases will be near exposed rocks and cliffs that really heat up in the sun.

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Recent Activity

No avalanches were reported yesterday; however, many wet avalanches occurred during last weekend's dramatic warm-up. Some avalanches occurred in the new snow late Tuesday. See reports of all avalanche activity HERE

Snow and Weather

This morning, air temperatures are in the upper 20s F but in the mid teens F above 10,000 ft. Winds are blowing 12-16 mph from the west. Light snowfall yesterday was pretty to see but only accumulated a trace of new snow.

Today, skies will be clear and sunny. Air temperatures should remain cool and climb into the mid to upper 20s F at higher elevations. At trailhead elevations, temperatures should be in the low to mid 40s F. However, the strong April sunshine should make it feel quite warm. Winds should die down this morning and remain light today.

Looking ahead, some clouds should come back tomorrow with a few disturbances that could deliver a few snowflakes. A better chance for snow arrives Tuesday with maybe 6 inches of snow followed by warm, dry weather the rest of the week.

Snow conditions: Tuesday's snow was a welcome sight but it warmed quickly and should have an ice crust on top of it in most places except due north-facing slopes at upper elevations.

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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.

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