Avalanche forecast

Provo

Issued Feb 19, 2025valid to Feb 20, 2025Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE on mid and upper-elevation slopes, where triggering an avalanche on one of several buried weak layers is likely. This danger also extends to many other steep slopes due to wind-drifted snow and lingering new snow. A MODERATE danger exists at lower elevations, where human-triggered avalanches are still possible.

Though danger has decreased, the travel advice remains the same—avoid avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
3
The snowpack in Provo is far from ideal—it's shallow, weak, and unstable. Multiple faceted layers sit beneath the recent storm snow, creating a dangerous setup where avalanches can fail on any of them. This includes almost all aspects, even those considered more solar. Look for weak crust interfaces on aspects facing southwest, south, and southeast. This isn’t the time to thread the needle, hoping to find a steep slope that won’t slide—the weak snow is too widespread.

Until conditions improve, we strongly recommend staying out of avalanche terrain.

Example of the poor snowpack structure, and facet crust interface - Pole Line Pass
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
3
Elevated winds continue to form sensitive wind drifts on all aspects at mid and upper elevations. Cornices have grown large and may break farther back from ridgelines than expected. Any avalanche involving wind-drifted snow could step down to a buried persistent weak layer.

Outside the wind-affected zones, especially on shaded slopes, new snow may still be reactive in steep terrain. These interfaces are slowly stabilizing, but soft slabs remain possible on many aspects and elevations.

Special Announcement

Help the University of Utah understand risk behavior in the backcountry by participating in a 15-minute survey. The U will compensate up to $30 for your time! Please note: responses will not be confidential but will be handled ethically under IRB guidelines.

Recent Activity

No avalanches were reported from the backcountry yesterday. On Monday, Paige, Trent, and I were in Provo and observed multiple recently triggered natural avalanches on south and southeast-facing terrain. Trent was also in the field in Provo on Sunday—video below.

Read all observations HERE.

Snow and Weather

This morning, there’s a slight temperature inversion in the mountains, with trailhead temps near 10 °F and the highest ridgelines sitting around 20 °F. Winds out of the west have been steady overnight, averaging 5–10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph at mid-elevations and 15–25 mph, gusting to 40 mph, on the highest ridgelines. Snowfall tapered off overnight, leaving a trace to 1 inch since yesterday morning.

Today, temps will rise into the mid-30s °F. A small blip of high pressure will settle over the area this morning before giving way to partly cloudy skies and scattered snow showers this afternoon. Winds will stay westerly, averaging 5 mph with gusts up to 15 mph at mid-elevations and 15–30 mph, gusting to 35–40 mph, on the highest ridgelines. Expect a trace to an inch of new snow by sunset.

The main cold front will cross the northern Utah mountains late tonight through early Thursday, bringing the bulk of the storm’s snowfall. Snow will linger through Thursday before tapering off, with 4–8 inches expected and up to 0.75 inches of water. High pressure will follow, ushering in an extended stretch of dry weather.

Widespread signs of instability are slowly decreasing, as are natural avalanches, but none of us trust this snowpack. With the incoming storm, avalanche danger will only rise again. We’ve seen avalanches on nearly every aspect and elevation over the past five days, and with multiple weak layers in play, there’s no way to know which one will fail. I don’t recommend trying to navigate the hazard right now. Plenty of excellent powder riding can be found on slopes under 30 degrees. Plain and simple.

Additional Info

We've had four people tragically die already this year. Please do not try to outsmart the snowpack. Keep it simple and avoid steep terrain.

General Announcements

CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ

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