Provo

The avalanche danger is MODERATE on steep upper elevation slopes facing northwest through north through northeast, where slab avalanches failing on the old dry snow can be triggered. Other terrain has a LOW avalanche danger, though small sluffs and soft slabs can be triggered, especially this afternoon during periods of snowfall or increased wind. Avoid spending time beneath cornices, glide cracks and steep roofs.

While mostly for the SLC area mountains, still has valuable info. Catch up with Greg’s Week in Review HERE.

The latest blog-casts are out - Shame and the Social Contract and Stacking the Deck.

No new observations from the Provo area mountains. These observations from the Salt lake area mountains are probably representative of what's happening in parts of the Provo area mountains. Yesterday, there were a couple of intentionally triggered new snow soft slabs on northerly facing facing slopes in Flannigans (Silver Fork) and Dog Lake chutes, about 6” deep and 20 to 80' wide. Collapses were noted on the ridgeline near the top of Main Days and in upper White Pine, both on northeasterly facing slopes above 10,000’, failing on the old dry snow beneath Wednesday’s hard wind slab. Another huge roof-a-lanche occured around 3 am this morning in upper Little Cottonwood. Small, but long running soft slabs on hard snow surfaces were easy to trigger yesterday morning, settling out by afternoon.

Shallow, new snow soft slab, Dog Lake Chute. Photo by Chester.

3 am roof avalanche, LCC. Photo Dave Richards.

Winter is trying to make a comeback, but needs a bit more encouragement. The first 2 shots of snow (yesterday and overnight) have left a total of about 1 to 3” at the low to mid elevations of the Provo area mountains. Most terrain is dust on crust, the exception upper elevation, northwest through northeasterly facing slopes, where there is soft snow beneath the new. Dodging hidden frozen ice chunks, avalanche debris and “curb and gutter” frozen tracks will take skill.

This morning, under cloudy skies, temperatures are in the mid to upper twenties at the mid elevations, and near freezing at the low elevations. An additional 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected today, mostly after noon, with convective showers and lightning possible. Highs today will be in the upper 30s at 8,000’ and the upper 20s at 10,000’. Winds will be from the south to southwest, averaging 20 to 25 mph at times, with gusts to 40. Currently, they've been averaging 10 to 15 mph, with gusts to 20 at 8,200'.

Slide-for-life’s may be possible on the hard crusts beneath the new snow. Consider some combination of crampons, ski crampons, Whippets or an ice axe if you’re heading into very steep, alpine terrain. Carry skin wax and a scraper to deal with alternating dry and damp snow.

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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.