Avalanche forecast

Provo

Issued Jan 8, 2026valid to Jan 9, 2026Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Pockets of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exist in the upper elevations for triggering a lingering hard or soft slab of wind blown snow that may step down 2-4' deep. A MODERATE danger exists for triggering loose dry sluffs on all aspects at the mid/upper elevations.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Lingering slabs of wind-drifted snow along the higher elevations may step down 2 to 3+ feet into the Christmas Eve rain crust (CERC), and could also step deeper into older facets near the ground, with avalanches exceeding 5+ feet possible. Regardless of whether these avalanches step down more deeply, they remain large and dangerous.

Trent and Brooke investigated the First Cornice avalanche yesterday, which is on the Wasatch Back near the Provo area. Below, they describe a major close call involving a large, tree-snappling avalanche of wind-drifted snow.
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
As travel has been difficult in the Provo area mountains, we don't have much information on current conditions. Still, based upon the weather history and adjacent snowpack information in the Central Wasatch, we feel that poor snowpack structure exists primarily along the upper elevation shady terrain for avalanches to rip to the ground. These would be low probability avalanches but deadly nonetheless. Some were triggered by explosives yesterday in Little Cottonwood and one likely triggered from a cornice in Big Cottonwood two days ago.
Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
3
The new low density snow will run as sluffs on all aspects at the mid and upper elevations today. These should only pose a problem in unforgiving terrain, if you're tripped up and carried through trees, or if you are in a terrain trap where the snow can pile up deeply. The new snow may bond poorly to the old snow surfaces, making them particularly sensitive.

Recent Activity

Only longer running loose snow graupel avalanches were noted in steep terrain yesterday.

On Monday, a snowmobiler triggered a very large hard slab at First Cornice, a zone known for heavy wind loading. This is on the Wasatch Back near Snake Creek. The crown averaged 4 feet deep, but near the most heavily loaded areas by the cornice, it may have been up to 7 feet deep. A follow-up investigation by Brooke and Trent confirmed the avalanche was a slab of wind-drifted snow that failed on small grain facets above the Christmas Eve rain crust. The avalanche did not step down more deeply into the old snow below the crust.

Read all backcountry observations here.

Snow and Weather

A cold front swept through in the early morning hours and you'll find up to 4-7" of low density snow in the Provo mountains. Temps are in the 20s....and falling. Winds are generally light from the northwest...except along the highest elevations where they're blowing 15-20mph. Riding conditions are actually pretty good above 7500' with up to 2' of supportable dense snow and crusts. I toured up into the Timp Divide area yesterday and ran into Jeremy Jolley and pal Ben who were out on their timbersleds. My report is HERE.

General Announcements

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