Provo
Avalanche danger
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
Highlights
The avalanche danger is LOW. The two things to watch for today are (1) small, loose wet avalanches on aspects facing east, south, and west, as well as low and mid-elevation northerly slopes, especially mid-day with peak temperatures (2) small pockets of fresh wind drifts may be found along north-facing upper elevation ridgelines. Pay attention to changing springtime conditions, if the skies clear and the snow surface becomes damp the avalanche danger could increase to MODERATE on steep solar slopes.
Special Announcement
We know there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the Coronavirus, but the Utah Avalanche Center is planning to continue issuing regular avalanche forecasts into April.
Uphill Travel at Ski Areas - Some closed resorts are offering limited uphill access, and policies may change daily. The latest information about uphill access from Ski Utah is posted HERE.
Travel in the mountains is still a relatively safe way to get out, exercise, find joy, and maintain a sense of normalcy. During these challenging times, the UAC asks that you do not carpool with people who live outside of your household, keep your groups small, and don’t have social gatherings at the parking lot before or after your day out. Please take extra precautions to avoid the risk of accidents that could require medical attention. Any backcountry accident can stress the capacity of our medical system.
Recent Activity
Yesterday, Drew didn't see any signs of recent wet-loose avalanches in the Provo area mountains, but did find one slab avalanche, shown below.
This slab avalanche was on a Northeast aspect at roughly 9,800 on Box Elder Peak. The avalanche was triggered by a loose avalanche coming over the cliff band, and we suspect it might have failed on pooled graupel from the middle of March. 10-20” deep x 90' wide.
As always, you can find more details in the Observations and Avalanches tab above and locations of these areas HERE
Snow and Weather
This morning, mountain temperatures are in the upper-20s F at trailheads and low-20s F at ridgelines. Winds are southwesterly and have increased overnight, currently averaging in the mid-teens with gusts of 25 mph at mid-elevations.
Today, a weak high pressure will build over the area and bring partly cloudy skies, mountain temperatures in the mid-30s to low 40s F, and southwesterly winds averaging 5-15 mph at mid-elevations and 15-25 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph at upper elevations. There is another chance of light snow showers this afternoon.
The next round of measurable precipitation will begin late tomorrow morning, or early afternoon before a cold front pushes through the area Tuesday into Wednesday.
Additional Info
If you are new to backcountry skiing (perhaps you are hiking uphill at a closed resort), the UAC has published an award-winning educational series Know Before You Go. This includes:
- A basic 15-minute avalanche awareness video
- A free online-learning series with five interactive courses
But don't stop here. Commit yourself to take an avalanche awareness class during the 2020/21 season!
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.