Avalanche forecast

Provo

Issued Mar 3, 2021valid to Mar 4, 2021Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. On east, south, and west-facing slopes, wet avalanches of loose snow will become possible as the snow surface warms and becomes wet. On all upper elevation slopes and most mid-elevation slopes (except south and southwest facing) there remains a chance of triggering a hard slab avalanche on a deeply buried persistent weak layer.

Avalanche problems

Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Today's strong sunshine and warm temperatures will make the snow surface wet, but it will take a little longer than yesterday since an ice crust on the snow surface from last night's refreeze will have to melt first. As the day heats up, wet avalanches of loose snow will become possible. These wet snow avalanches will mainly involve the new snow that fell Friday/Saturday.

Pay attention to the snow becoming wet, then look for balls of snow rolling downhill and growing in size and occurring more frequently. Seeing these clues will tell you that loose wet avalanches may start happening. They tend to happen more near exposed rocks that absorb heat from the sun and help warm the snow faster.

Photo below shows these roller balls under exposed rocks (E. Romer)
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
4
Unfortunately, avalanches can still break near the ground on a persistent weak layer of old faceted snow that caused many avalanches about two weeks ago. The odds of triggering one of these slides has gone down significantly but the consequences remain severe.

Recent Activity

Under yesterday's strong sunshine and warm temperatures, the new snow became wet and there were wet avalanches of loose snow on slopes receiving direct sunshine. Several slides were spotted in Primrose Cirque on Mt. Timpanogos, and on Monday one person observed five different slides in about a half-hour just above Aspen Grove.

Wet loose avalanches on Mt Timpanogos (M. Norton)

Snow and Weather

Yesterday, high temperatures reached low 40s F, but it felt a lot warmer than that in the strong March sunshine.

This morning, temperatures are mostly near freezing, about four degrees warmer than they were yesterday morning. Winds are blowing from the southwest 10-15 mph and gusting to 20 mph at most ridgelines and peaks.

Today will be similar to yesterday with clear skies and strong sunshine. Winds will blow 5-15 mph from the south and maybe southeast by later afternoon. Temperatures at low and mid-elevations should easily climb into the mid 40s F.

Snow depths range from 3-4 feet deep. Snowfall on Friday/Saturday delivered 2-6 inches of snow which remains on north-facing slopes. After getting wet yesterday and refreezing overnight, there should be an ice crust on the snow surface on all other slopes.

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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