Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Drew Hardesty for
Tuesday, April 4, 2023

The avalanche danger is HIGH in some areas of the Provo area mountains...as snow amounts vary widely. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Natural and human triggered avalanches are very likely.

Avoid all avalanche terrain. This includes underneath steep terrain. Avalanches will run fast and far today.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Avalanche Warning

What

The avalanche danger for the warning area will be HIGH today.

When

In effect from 6am MST this morning to 6am MST Wednesday

Where

For the mountains of Northern Utah and Southeast Idaho including the Wasatch Range, Bear River Range, and Uinta Mountains..

Impacts

Recent heavy accumulations of snow and drifting have created widespread areas of unstable snow. Long running natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. People should avoid being in backcountry avalanche terrain, (off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30°), and stay clear of avalanche runouts.

Weather and Snow

And the storm continues...

Snowfall amounts vary widely across the Provo zone. Snowfall amounts are greatest in the upper reaches of American Fork...and as far south as Payson with 1-2' of snow. Provo canyon is reporting a trace to an inch with storm totals of about a foot of new.

Mountain temperatures are in the teens.

Winds, as foretold, ramped up overnight from the west-northwest, blowing 15-25mph with gusts to 40. The highest peaks have gusts to 75.

We'll see continued periods of heavy snowfall today with perhaps an additional 2-6" or so, although amounts may vary widely. Snowfall will continue through tomorrow morning.

Mountain temps will be in the single digits to low teens. Winds from the west-northwest will lose some steam, but I view them as excellent wind slab building material.

We dry out mid to late week with a warming trend on tap for the weekend.

Recent Avalanches

We did not hear of any avalanches in the Provo area mountains but numerous slides were reported in the Ogden and SLC mountains. We are hoping to look further into an avalanche accident from April 1 on the front side of Mahogany Mountain on Timp above Pleasant Grove.

Check out all observations HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

It's no secret or surprise: natural and human triggered avalanches are very likely in steep terrain of all aspects. Avoid all avalanche terrain. This includes being under avalanche paths.

***I am certain that we will see avalanches within the new snow and some of these avalanches will be large and long running. The great uncertainty lies in whether some of these avalanches will step down into older storm snow from the past week or two. Regardless, the travel advice is the same - Avoid being on or beneath steep terrain.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Moderate to strong winds from the west-northwest will also tip the scales. Natural and human triggered avalanches will again be very likely. Avoid all avalanche terrain. This includes being under avalanche paths.

CORNICES have grown unruly and may calve off naturally. These may then trigger larger avalanches on the steep slope below.

General Announcements

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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

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