Avalanche forecast

Provo

Issued Feb 8, 2023valid to Feb 9, 2023Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger will be on the rise today with new and developing soft and hard slabs of wind drifted snow. Expect a MODERATE avalanche danger in the wind zone of the mid and upper elevations, predominantly on steep north to east to south facing slopes. Human triggered.... and shallow natural avalanches... will be possible.

Low angle sun and wind sheltered slopes will be the best bet for today.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
New and developing soft and hard slabs of wind blown snow will be your primary concern for today.

The newest drifts are currently relegated to the higher elevations on primarily north to east to south facing aspects, but they'll become larger and more widespread as the day wears on. Today's new soft slab avalanches will be particularly sensitive and may be triggered at a distance.

Note that cornices may start to calve with the searing winds today as well.

How can you recognize new soft slabs of wind blown snow? Cracking and collapsing are definite signs, but look for rounded, scalloped pillows to the lee of ridge and subridges and around other terrain features such as rocky outcroppings. MORE INFO

Below - classic photo of wind drifting into a slab avalanche to the lee of a ridgeline in Alaska by Doug Fesler

Recent Activity

Skiers and riders in the central Wasatch triggered a few lingering soft slabs of wind blown snow on a variety of aspects in the upper elevation bands yesterday. These were roughly 8-12" deep and 60' wide. The largest looks to be a 2' deep and 100' wide soft slab on south facing Little Superior (Dave Kelly photo below).

Rounding out the activity were reports of both dry and wet loose (and shallow wet slab) avalanches. These sluffs were generally shallow in nature but one skier was carried briefly in a wet loose sluff near Dougs Drop in Silver Fork of BCC.

See the full list of avalanche activity where you can filter avalanches by region and date.

Snow and Weather

Skies are partly-trending-mostly cloudy.

Mountain temperatures are in the upper teens and low 20s.

Winds are from the west-northwest, blowing 15mph with gusts to 25. Along the highest ridgelines, anemometers are spinning 40-45mph with gusts to 60. They are just getting started.

Riding and travel conditions have been nothing short of spectacular but get it while you can. Southerly aspects have a breakable to trapdoor crust but our Wasatch finest is about to get wind jacked.

We'll see increasing clouds and winds today with of a storm system passing by to the north. A mostly dry cold front pushes through mid-afternoon, allowing temperatures to drop to the teens today and the single digits for tonight. Winds will only gather steam and start to howl out of the northwest. Unfortunately, we'll only see an inch or two for the trouble. Our partners here at the NWS is calling it a "squally storm", with strong winds and poor visibility by late afternoon, particularly in areas north of I-80. High pressure along with a warming trend follows for the rest of the week with a storm system diving well south of the area over the weekend. The long range models look interesting.

Additional Info

Check out the updated guidance on electronic interference and beacons HERE. The 20/50 rule is that you want your beacon 20cm (8") away from other electronics while transmitting and 50cm (20") away from electronics while searching.

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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