Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Drew Hardesty on
Thursday morning, January 29, 2026

The snowpack is generally stable and the avalanche danger is LOW. Shallow loose dry sluffing in the weak surface snow remains your primary concern, particularly in extreme or unforgiving terrain. This includes ice climbing routes.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

Learn how to read the forecast here

Weather and Snow

Skies are clear in the wake of the "storm". Most terrain picked up a few flurries and up to a trace. Probably the upper reaches of American Fork host an inch or two. Temps are in the teens to low 20s; winds are light from the northwest.

I toured up to Timp Divide yesterday to dig a snowpit near where I had dug three weeks ago. I suppose it's the sign of the times with this winter that I found my previous snowpit (8100' north facing) almost entirely intact. The two feet of snow, however, has rotted out into a mess of weak sugary grains and crusts. While this recrystallized faceted snow still skis and rides well (on the polar aspects), it will produce widespread avalanches if and when we do see an active weather pattern.

You can find my full observation HERE. Nikki Champion and Sierra Bishop rode up to Pole Line Pass via Snake Creek a couple days ago and their report is Here.

Recent Avalanches

No recent avalanche activity, per se, other than some natural loose dry sluffing out of the NE Chute of Elk Point.

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. Photo example below by Mark White.
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