Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Monday morning, January 27, 2025

Avalanche danger is MODERATE on all aspects at upper elevations and on mid-elevation slopes facing northwest, north, and east. You could trigger older hard slabs or new shallow soft slabs of wind-drifted snow, with signs like surface texture possibly hidden by recent snow. Be extra cautious on ridgelines and other terrain features that could catch wind.

On northerly and east-facing slopes, avalanches could fail 2-4 feet deep in a persistent weak layer.

Watch for shallow wet-loose avalanches as the sun heats southerly slopes.

Heads up: If you're ice climbing in Provo Canyon, check out THIS observation. Be careful of small avalanches that could sweep you off your feet.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

Learn how to read the forecast here

Special Announcements

Urgent battery replacement required for anyone who received batteries from one of our participating "Batteries for Beacons" shops. Please review the "Batteries for Beacons" replacement notice on our blog. Batteries distributed through our "Batteries for Beacons" program this year have shown to be inadequate length.

Join the UAC at Deer Valley on January 30th for the 2nd Annual Blizzard Ball Gala. Bruce Tremper, the Former Director of the Utah Avalanche Center, will deliver the keynote address.

Weather and Snow

Under clear skies, there’s a temperature inversion in the mountains, with trailhead temperatures in the single digits and ridgetops in the mid to upper teens (°F). Southeasterly winds remained calm, with the highest elevation ridgelines gusting below 30 mph.

Today, expect clear and sunny skies, with temperatures rising into the low-30s (°F). The east-southeasterly winds will stay light, with gusts below 25 mph at the highest ridgelines. An easterly weather pattern will continue through midweek as a low-pressure system slowly tracks east across Arizona. Otherwise, stable conditions and mostly clear skies will stick around across northern Utah.

Despite the high winds earlier this week, the few inches of new snow have really improved riding conditions in a lot of areas.

Recent Avalanches

In Tibble Fork, there was a large avalanche that likely failed as a slab of wind drifted snow on facets near the ground. Yesterday, several avalanches occurred in the Central Wasatch, averaging 1-2' deep. Additionally, loose dry avalanches were reported throughout Saturday, and a few wet-loose avalanches occurred late Sunday afternoon.

Tibble Fork (Forest Lake Drainage): Skier-triggered 3.5-foot-deep hard slab on an east aspect at 9,400', 150 feet wide, running 200 feet downhill.

Photo looking across the crown at Forest Lake Avalanche - James

Observations and Avalanches

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

We’ve got two main wind-related avalanche issues right now.

This weekend’s southeast winds created new shallow soft and hard slabs, possibly in unexpected spots due to the unusual wind direction.

Strong winds over the past week also built widespread hard slabs on a faceted snow surface. These slabs are still sensitive and most common on north through east slopes, but can extend beyond ridgelines and be found on all aspects. Hard slabs are tricky because they can fracture unexpectedly, letting you get far onto or below a slope before they break.

Outside the wind zone: Provo received the most snow this weekend, with 3-10 inches of new snow. Look for shallow soft slabs of new snow and dry-loose avalanches in steep terrain.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

This winter's challenge is inconsistent snowfall. Buried facets near the ground, present since early December, have caused most avalanche activity since Christmas. As snow accumulates, this persistent weak layer (PWL) is slowly heading toward dormancy. Yesterday’s Tibble Fork avalanche likely involved wind-drifted snow on these facets—something we hope to confirm during fieldwork this week.

Cracking, collapsing, and whumpfing have subsided, but the weak layer remains tricky.

Most likely areas for a 2'-4' deep avalanche up to 100' wide:

Thin, rocky zones
Steep gullies
Slopes that have previously avalanched and reloaded with new snow or wind-drifted snow

If you’re riding this terrain, plan carefully, consider the consequences (like trees or terrain traps), and travel one at a time.

Additional Information

Check out this insightful blog by Paige, Jeremy, and Drew where they break down the complexities of Persistent Weak Layer (PWL) avalanches, why thin and rocky areas are especially dangerous, and how to manage the risks effectively in the backcountry.

Understanding the Risk of Persistent Weak Layer Avalanches

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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures