UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Evelyn Lees
Issued by Evelyn Lees for
Saturday, November 26, 2016

Most terrain still has a LOW danger. If you are heading to the highest terrain in the Provo area mountains, a MODERATE danger exists in steep wind-drifted terrain, primarily in the upper elevations and along ridge lines. A few smaller drifts may develop in open bowls at the mid and upper elevations. Getting caught even in a small slide can result in injury from hitting rocks due to the very thin coverage.

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Moderate
Considerable
High
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Special Announcements
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

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Weather and Snow

Under partly cloudy skies and a southwest flow, temperatures are warming in the Provo area mountains - currently in the mid to upper 30s at the mid elevations. The southwesterly winds are averaging a steady 15 mph at the mid elevations, while speeds across the highest peaks to the north have increased - 35 to 40 mph, with gusts to 50.

The early season Provo snow pack ranges from a few inches at the trail heads to perhaps a foot at the upper elevations.

Recent Avalanches

No reports from the Provo area mountains.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
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Description

The main avalanche concern is more widespread and deeper wind drifts. Today’s stronger southwesterly winds will drift snow further off the ridge lines, in addition to loading along the high ridges. Watch for cracky drifts mid slope, at mid elevations, in open bowls, along gully walls and sub ridges. New cornices may be sensitive. Shooting cracks indicate a sensitive wind slab, to be avoided on steep slopes.

Additional Information

Expect warm and windy conditions in the mountains today with 8000' temperatures rising into the mid 40's and to just above freezing at 10000'. Winds will be from the southwest and blowing 20-30 mph at mid elevations with gusts into the 50's at upper elevations. Fortunately a series of storms are on the doorstep with snowfall beginning later tonight with 2-4" expected by early Sunday morning. This initial system arrives on a southwest flow. A second, stronger pulse moves through Sunday afternoon with additional snowfall and colder temperatures on a northwest flow. The third - and strongest - piece moves through Monday and Tuesday..

General Announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

To get help in an emergency (to request a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911. Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

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DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

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Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

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Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.