Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Brooke Maushund on
Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026

The snowpack is generally stable and the avalanche danger is LOW. Our primary concerns are small slides in consequential terrain. Watch for sensitive pockets of wind-drifted snow in exposed mid and upper elevation terrain. Loose dry sluffs of weak snow, or facet-lanches, are becoming deeper and more common in sheltered northerly terrain.

Ice Climbers: Consider the terrain above you and the potential for loose dry drifts while planning your climb and belays.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

Yesterday, cold weather persisted with mountain highs hitting the low to mid 20s F, with thin high clouds building into the evening. Winds from the west blew into the teens mph, with gusts into the mid 20s to 30s mph able to transport dry, faceted surface snow.

Today, a small system to our north will bring cloudy skies and the potential for...drumroll, please...up to 1" of new snow(!) later this afternoon into this evening. It ain't much, but it's honest. Less favored areas will see a trace to none. Winds will be light from the west.

This persistent ridge of high pressure isn't exactly what we dream of in late January. I'd rather be getting face shots too, but I encourage you to be like the ridge, and be persistent in your season. Beacon practice, getting a lesson in garage science and sled mods from Kowboy down in Spring City, long walks into far terrain, and looking into the finer muff pot recipes with Nikki have all been on my menu lately. There won't be an excuse not to have a tuned-up machine, sharp edges, and dino nuggets at the ready when the next big snowfall comes...

Recent Avalanches

No recent avalanche activity, however...

Sierra Bishop and forecaster Nikki Champion rode near Pole Line Pass on Monday and found degrading road and coverage conditions on solars, along with continued weakening of the snowpack.

You can view all recent observations here.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The persistent ridge of high pressure also means persistently, generally stable avalanche conditions. Still, generally stable does not mean completely. We're mostly keeping an eye out for small slides that can knock you off your feet in/above consequential terrain.

Keep an eye out for:

Loose dry sluffs of weak snow, particularly on very steep slopes, especially where the snow remains shallow or unconsolidated. As the snow surface continues to weaken, loose dry sluffs will become more common and deeper. Managing these requires attention and strategic riding/skiing.
Small wind slabs in exposed terrain at mid and upper elevations. These drifts will be sensitive as they've formed atop very weak snow. Their size potential is the same as the sluffs above, but again—be aware of the consequences of a fall in the terrain you're in.

General Announcements

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