THE DANGER IN THE PROVO MOUNTAINS IS EXTREME. LARGE, LONG RUNNING DESTRUCTIVE AVALANCHES ARE EXPECTED.
AVOID ALL AVALANCHE TERRAIN.
AVOID THE RUNOUTS OF STEEP AVALANCHE PATHS.
Sensitive soft slabs of wind blown snow will be found on steep slopes of the mid and upper elevations, predominantly on north to east to south facing slopes. Long running naturals are expected.
Continued heavy snowfall rates, rising and then fluctuating rain/snow lines will increase the avalanche danger today on all aspects and elevations. I expect rising sensitivity and size of both soft slab avalanches and dry loose avalanches within the new snow of all aspects at the mid and upper elevations.
Any heavy rain on dry snow will lead to unstable avalanche conditions in the low elevation bands.
This heavy snowfall and wind event will be a significant test of our buried November persistent weak layer (PWL). This storm will add significant stress to these layers, particularly with any other new snow avalanche stepping down to these old layers, creating large and tree snapping avalanches. At lower elevations, the poor structure still exists and remains suspect, particularly with additional rain today.
...THE FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6AM MST SATURDAY TO 6AM MST MONDAY...
* WHAT...The avalanche danger is expected to reach High. The danger may reach Extreme in the Provo area mountains.
* WHERE...For the mountains of northern and central Utah, to include southeast Idaho. This includes the Wasatch Range, the Bear River Range, the Western Uintas, and the Manti-Skyline Plateau.
* WHEN...In effect from 6am MST Saturday morning to 6AM MST Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. With heavy snowfall and strong wind, both natural and human triggered avalanches are likely on many slopes. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
* PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
Reports of audible avalanches during the storm yesterday.
The storm has engulfed the Provo mountains with upwards of 18" and nearly 4 inches of snow water equivalent since yesterday. It's far from over.
We'll see continued snowfall, heavy at times, during the day. Winds should remain moderate to strong and shift to the southwest. Temperatures will be in the upper 20s to low 30s. We may see another foot of heavy dense snow today. This is a long, prolonged event and we won't see cooler air and lower density snow until later Sunday eve.
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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.
