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Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Drew Hardesty
Issued by Drew Hardesty on
Wednesday morning, December 27, 2017

We have a solid CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger on many slopes in the backcountry. Remember that these 1-2' deep and up to 300' wide avalanches are unmanageable - they can be triggered remotely from a distance and from below. Best to choose low angle slopes not connected to steeper terrain above.

I'll be honest here: these are the types of days where we see avalanche accidents.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
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Weather and Snow

We have clear skies with gusty southwest winds blowing 20-25mph. Temps are in the upper 20s to low 30s. Low elevation snow totals are thin still with probably closer to 1 1/2 feet up high.

Recent Avalanches

Photos below of natural activity in steep shady terrain on Timpanogos from a couple days ago. (UDOT Provo Canyon)


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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Collapsing, cracking and avalanches. These are the bulls eye clues to watch for in the upper elevations of the Provo area mountains. These weak faceted layers will be very slow to stabilize, and avoidance is key. The facets are most widespread on northwest through easterly facing slopes at the upper elevations. So avoid travel on and below all steep slopes, including even the smaller, steep gullies, creek beds and road banks at the mid elevations.

Collapsing of the weak snowpack noted at 7700' on a north facing slope yesterday. The weak faceted snow is evident in the photo below from UDOT Provo Canyon.

Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Increasing winds will create unstable wind slabs in the more exposed terrain and more prominent on northeast to east to southeast facing slopes or at the mid-elevations where wind swirl the snow onto unusual aspects. Note that triggered wind slabs my step down into older faceted snow, creating a larger avalanche.

Additional Information

We'll see increasing clouds with a disturbance passing by to the north. Westerly winds will increase to 30mph along the high ridglines. Mountain temps will be in the upper 20s to low 30s. Another weak brush by moves through early Friday with another weak system for the weekend.

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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 occur.

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