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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago.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 north through east, 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 northerly facing terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Poor snowpack structure remains on shady mid and upper elevation slopes. While this has not produced avalanches in the backcountry for about a week now, it’s hard to completely trust the layering of a stronger slab over a weak and faceted layer. Steep, rocky north and northeast facing terrain with fresh drifts of wind blown snow is particularly suspect. Continue to avoid this terrain for the time being.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    With this morning's bump in westerly winds along with a few inches of new snow you can expect to find fresh drifts of wind blown snow along the ridges. Be on the lookout and avoid pillowy, rounded, and hollow sounding snow. Wind drifted snow will likely be on the lee sides of ridge crests and around terrain features, like gully walls, sub ridges and down into open bowls. They should be easy to spot and easy to avoid.

Special Announcement

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Recent Activity

No observations or avalanches were reported from the Provo area yesterday. All observations can be found HERE.

Snow and Weather

Under west-south-west flow this morning we will see increasing clouds, ushered in from the west, along with a few inches inches of new snow possible before clearing out this afternoon. Fortunately, there is a progressive pattern setting up as a series of storms across northern Utah over the next week. The first in the series is a fast moving shortwave that will be here late this evening and could bring 2-4" of new snow before clearing out by Saturday morning. Short brief period of high pressure over the weekend before a more organized and better looking storm slated for Christmas day.

Westerly winds have increased and are currently blowing 20-25 mph gusting into the mid 30's across the upper elevations. Mid elevation anemometers are spinning 10-15 mph gusting into the low 20's. Current temperatures are in the low 30's °F at 8,880' feet in elevation.

The snow surface over the past week has taken a beating from the wind and sun. However, Wednesday's angry two inches of graupel along with the wind helped to smooth the snow surface and save the day. It's not over the head and over the hood, but, there remains soft, spongy turns and many backcountry travelers reported good riding and turning conditions in the backcountry. Southerly facing terrain will be crusted.

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.

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