Avalanche forecast

Provo

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger is MODERATE for the isolated chance of triggering a slab avalanche 2 to 4 feet deep, on upper elevation slopes facing northwest through easterly, especially those with any recent drifts of wind blown snow. There is also a MODERATE danger for triggering a new wind slab or wind drift, which will be scattered throughout the mid and upper elevation terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    No recent avalanches have been reported, but poor snow pack structure remains on shady mid and upper elevation slopes. This layering is known as “strong over weak” - a denser slab of snow above a persistent weak layer of sugary, faceted snow. While this layering has not produced avalanches the past few days, it’s hard to completely trust it.

    The strong winds will find some snow to drift, adding a little more weight in the form of wind drifts. Steep, rocky north and north easterly facing terrain with fresh wind drifts is particularly suspect, and even slopes that have already slid this season can slide again.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Wind directions have ranged from the southwest to northwest, and speeds are strong enough to erode and drift some snow. Clues are an etched, hard snow surface where the winds have eroded snow and hard, rounded, hollow sounding drifts where snow has been deposited. With fast wind speeds, look for the new wind slabs, or drifts, at both upper and mid elevations. They will be on the lee sides of ridge crests and around terrain features, like gully walls, sub ridges and down into open bowls.

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Recent Activity

In the Primrose Cirque above Aspen Grove on Saturday, a skier and a dog took a small ride in a wind slab while walking uphill. This wind slab was 70' wide and around a foot deep. The group decided not to head up any higher due to more consequential terrain above. All observations can be found HERE.

Drew went to look at the conditions in the Provo mountains Sunday. We did note one large natural avalanche high along the Cascade ridgeline from one of the recent wind events to confirm evidence of old snow layering.

Snow and Weather

An arriving “storm” may produce a few inches of snow today, but the bigger impact will be the westerly winds. They ramped up a few hours ago, and exposed mid elevation stations in the Provo area mountains were averaging 30 mph, gusting to 40 mph. Upper elevation stations to the north had averages in the 40s, with gusts in the 70s. Speeds will gradually decrease throughout the day. Temperatures are generally in the 30s, and won’t warm too much today.

Wondering where all the powder went? Sunny slopes are crusted, and multiple wind events in the past 7 days have created widespread wind damage. Search for patches of settled powder on shady, sheltered slopes.

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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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