Provo
Avalanche danger
Highlights
The snowpack is generally stable and avalanches are unlikely.
There is a chance you may find loose dry sluffing in steep northerly terrain. It may also be possible to trigger a shallow pocket of wind drifted snow in isolated areas or extreme terrain.
We will be temporarily suspending daily forecasts and will be issuing intermittent updates and publishing backcountry observations as they arrive. Please consult our updated Salt Lake Advisory.
Special Announcement
Many ski areas are now closed to uphill travel in order to prepare for winter operations. Resort uphill travel policies can be found HERE.
Recent Activity
A group encountered avalanche conditions they did not like in the upper elevations of the UFO Bowls and wisely turned around.
Provo UDOT reported slides in the new/old interface from last week.
Mount Timpanogos (Provo UDOT)
Read the most recent observations from the backcountry HERE.
If you see anything we should know about, please submit your own observations HERE.
Snow and Weather
For this week sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-20's (F) and variable winds. Updated NWS forecast here. Snow depths are 1-2' in the Provo mountains. Coverage is decent for this time of year and riding conditions on the northerly aspects are good. There will be some sun crusted slopes and areas of wind damage above tree line.
As we move into a high pressure cycle, skiers are noting feathery crystals forming on the snow surface throughout the Wasatch. Cold clear nights with higher humidity and light winds create surface hoar, which is the wintertime equivalent of dew. While these crystals are fun to ski and pretty to look at, they can create a future persistent weak layer if they are not destroyed prior to being buried. If you're out and about take note of where you find these crystals and submit an observation here.
Read more about Surface Hoar here.
Photo of Surface Hoar from Broads Fork (Grainger)
Additional Info
A Few Things to Remember:
- Whether you're-hiking, hunting, skiing, boarding, snowshoeing or firing up the snowmachine: be prepared for avalanches
- Any avalanche can produce serious trauma because of a thin snowpack
- Hitting rocks and stumps is a real danger. Don't end your season.
- Treat ski resorts as backcountry terrain and check out the UAC site for resort uphill travel policies
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.