Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Tuesday morning, January 28, 2025

Avalanche danger is MODERATE on all aspects at upper elevations. Expect new shallow soft slabs from the easterly winds today, along with widespread hard slabs formed by last week's strong winds, most common on north to east-facing slopes but found on all aspects.

These hard slabs sit atop weak faceted snow and can behave unpredictably, sometimes allowing travel far onto the slope without signs of instability. Be extra cautious on ridgelines, sub-ridges, and wind-exposed terrain.

On north and east-facing slopes, there’s a low likelihood of triggering avalanches 2-4' deep in a persistent weak layer.

A generally LOW avalanche danger doesn’t mean no avalanche danger—continue to practice safe travel techniques and pay attention to changing conditions.

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, a temperature inversion is in effect, with trailhead temperatures in the single digitis and ridgetops near 20°F. Winds have shifted east-northeasterly but with gusts below 35 mph at the highest ridgelines.

Today will be clear and sunny, with temperatures rising into the mid-to-upper 30s°F. Northeasterly winds will increase, averaging 10 mph at mid-elevations and 15–30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph at higher elevations.

A storm may arrive late Friday through the weekend, bringing significant moisture. However, expect heavy, wet snow with higher snow levels, especially on Sunday.

Despite last week’s high winds, the few inches of new snow have greatly improved riding conditions in many areas.

Recent Avalanches

No new avalanches were reported yesterday, but observers noted a weakening snow surface and facet sluffs. On Sunday, a large avalanche in Tibble Fork likely failed as a slab of wind-drifted snow over facets near the ground. Several avalanches occurred in the Central Wasatch on the 26th, averaging 1-2' deep.

Tibble Fork (Forest Lake Drainage): A 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

Find all avalanches from the past few days on the observations and avalanche page.

Observations and Avalanches

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Heads up: Easterly winds in the Wasatch can be unpredictable, creating unusual avalanche conditions.

Currently, we’re dealing with two main wind-related problems:

New Wind Slabs: Southeast winds this weekend, combined with today’s easterly winds, have and will continue to form shallow soft and hard slabs of wind-drifted snow. Due to the unusual wind direction, these slabs may appear in unexpected locations.
Widespread Hard Slabs: Strong winds over the past week have built hard slabs on faceted snow surfaces, most commonly on north to east slopes but found on all aspects, often extending well below ridgelines. These slabs are especially dangerous, as they can sometimes release after you’ve traveled far onto or below a slope.

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Inconsistent snowfall is this winter’s challenge, with key weak layers present.

Ground-level facets, active since December, have caused most avalanche activity since Christmas. While this persistent weak layer (PWL) is trending toward dormancy Sunday's Tibble Fork slide—likely involved wind-drifted snow over basal facets. Fieldwork today will confirm.

Near-surface facets beneath hard wind slabs are now a concern, creating a new weak layer to monitor in the short term, especially during the next loading event.

Avalanches 2'–4' deep and up to 100' wide are most likely in thin, rocky zones, steep gullies, and slopes that have previously avalanched and reloaded with new or wind-drifted snow. If riding these slopes, plan carefully, assess consequences like 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