Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Thursday morning, April 9, 2020

This morning the avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE on all elevations and aspects. The three things to watch for today are (1) wet avalanches on all aspects as the snow surface continues to warm throughout the day (2) unpredictable large glide avalanches in very specific places and (3) large cornices breaking back farther than expected along the ridgelines.

Pay attention to changing springtime conditions and continue to evaluate terrain carefully.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

This morning under mostly clear skies the mountain temperatures range from the mid 30s to low 40s F. Winds are south-easterly and lightly blowing 5-15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

Today will bring increased cloud cover and eventually scattered showers this afternoon. Temperatures should climb into the mid to upper 50s F. Winds will become easterly and continue to be light, gusting up to 30 mph at the highest elevations. This increased moisture could bring 1 inch of snow to the Provo area before more dry weather tomorrow.

Recent Avalanches

Wet snow - Multiple signs of wet snow reported in the backcountry, including roller balls, pinwheels and easily triggered small wet-loose avalanches.

Glide Avalanches - Yesterday, in the Central Wasatch, evidence of multiple Glide Avalanches were reported in the backcountry. One of these glide avalanches was reported in Stairs Gulch. The other two glide avalanches were reported in Broads Fork on Bonkers and Blue Ice.

Photo of glide avalanche release on Bonkers (M. White)

This occurs when a previously open glide crack releases and the entire snowpack slides as a unit to the ground. While these tend to be unpredictable, multiple occurring within a small time frame indicates conditions are currently suitable for these to release.

Find the full observation page HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

With another day of warm temperatures, and no true overnight refreeze the two things I would watch for today are:

1. Wet snow - Today's increasing cloud cover should keep the snow surface cooler but as the day heats up and the snow gets wet, you should be able to trigger small loose wet avalanches. These usually start at your feet and fan out below you. However, watch out for these slides happening naturally especially if you are in a gully or any confined terrain where a small one could pile up deeply. Look for signs of wet snow like rollerballs.

2. Glide Avalanches - A separate but related avalanche problem, is glide avalanches. When they happen is mostly unpredictable. Several occurred within the last few days during the warm temperatures. Where they happen is generally predictable because there is often a huge crack in the snowpack. Common places to find glide avalanches are places with rock slabs or a smooth ground surface like Broads Fork, Stairs Gulch, and Mill B South, and upper Raymond Slabs in upper Porter Fork. Simply avoid being under these places or any slope with a visible glide crack.

Continue to maintain safe travel habits; this means exposing one person at a time to avalanche terrain and having someone watch them from a safe location

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Cornices in some places are massive. These monsters are unpredictable especially during warm weather when they start bending downhill.

Simply avoid being under or near the tops of large cornices as they break farther back than expected.

Additional Information

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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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