Avalanche forecast

Provo

Issued Dec 9, 2025valid to Dec 10, 2025Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 9 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Today, mid and upper-elevation steep slopes facing west through north and east have a MODERATE avalanche danger. Here, it will be possible to trigger an avalanche on the weak October and November facets, now buried 1-2 feet deep.

Across all upper elevations, there is also a MODERATE avalanche danger due to wind-drifted snow. Slopes that have recently been wind-loaded are the most suspect today, and extra caution is advised, as these drifts could step down deeper in the snowpack and trigger larger avalanches.

With warm temperatures and a chance of rain today, watch the snow surface. If it becomes unsupportable or you see widespread rollerballs or pinwheels, consider changing aspects.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
A persistent weak layer of October and November facets makes up the base of the snowpack on north-facing slopes at mid and upper elevations. This is primarily on west, through the north, through the east-facing aspects - but may extend all the way to southeast-facing aspects in the upper elevations as well.In these areas, it is still possible to trigger an avalanche up to about 1-2 feet deep and over 100 feet wide.

This setup was obvious over the weekend, with widespread avalanche activity and plenty of red flags. As we move farther from the loading event, those signs may be less obvious, but the structure has not changed. Sensitivity and overall likelihood are slowly dropping, but the consequences remain high.

This problem extends across both mid and upper elevations, and both deserve caution. Upper elevation slopes remain the most suspect because they received the most snow and have the most connected weak layer.
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Northwest winds have been cranking for days. In some places they have scoured the surface, but in others they are drifting snow and building both fresh soft and hard slabs. Watch for slopes that are loading or have that rounded, pillow look. Cracking under your feet, a hollow feel, or stiff chalky snow are all signs of new wind drifts to avoid.

The longer the winds blow, the more supportive these slabs become, which means you can get farther out onto the slope before they break.

Where these drifts sit on top of a weak layer of facets, it does not take much to overload the structure. Even a small drift can step down into the weak faceted snow, triggering a much deeper and more dangerous avalanche.

Recent Activity

In the Provo area, several natural avalanches were observed today in the Big Springs drainage from yesterday’s storm. Both occurred around 9800' on NE to E slopes with mixed terrain, measuring roughly 1000' wide and 7–10" deep. Storm snow slid on a shallow layer of old faceted snow near the ground, likely triggered by wind loading over the ridge.

Be sure to check all avalanche observations HERE.

Example of the large natural avalanches observed in Big Springs Drainage (Photo: UDOT)

Snow and Weather

This morning, skies are mostly broken, and temperatures range from the mid-20s F to low 30s F. Northwest winds are still elevated at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts in the 30s across most mid-elevation sites. At the highest elevation wind sites, gusts are pushing close to 50 mph.

Today, skies will be partly sunny with a very small chance of snow as a system passes just north of us. We could see a trace of precipitation. Winds will hold steady from the west northwest, averaging 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph across mid to upper-elevation sites. The highest elevations may continue to gust up to 60 mph. Mountain temperatures will remain in the mid-to upper 30s F.

Looking ahead, it stays dry Thursday through the weekend. A relatively weak trough may move in next Tuesday.

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