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Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik for
Monday, February 11, 2013

There is an overall MODERATE avalanche danger today. This means human triggered avalanches are possible. Dry loose snow sluffs may still pose a minor threat. Southerly facing slopes may become damp and unstable from direct sun. Shallow snowpack areas should be approached with caution as they may collapse into preexisting weak snow.

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Weather and Snow

Temperatures got cold overnight and are in the zero to 5 degree range. Ridgetop winds are light from the east. A few more inches of very low density snow fell during the day on Sunday. You'll find 6 to 12 inches of snow from the last storm.

Recent Avalanches

The new snow basically produced no significant rise in the avalanche danger yet there was a serious accident that occurred in Broads Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon where what appears was a glide avalanche that released naturally and hit an unsuspecting ski touring party that was ascending in the drainage bottom. One person sustained a serious leg injury and had to be evacuated by ground since sky conditions didn't allow for a helicopter. This seems odd and I certainly would not have expected yesterday to be a likely day for a glide avalanche. We'll have some more details after we go check out the slide. LINK TO INITIAL REPORT

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

I don't feel that there is one particular significant avalanche problem that really stands out but there are a number of things I'd keep in mind during the day today:

Avalanche Problem Where? Comments
Persistent Slab More northerly slopes in very steep shallow snowpack locations This problem is probably the most dangerous but not all that likely. Be suspect of locations where you can easily poke your pole through the entire snowpack or where your sled track is sinking all the way through.
Loose Snow Slides All aspects, steep sustained slopes The cold low density snow may still sluff if disturbed. Watch how much snow is moving behind you if you're descending steep slopes. Keep in mind what or who may be above you if you're below steep sustained slopes.
Heat Initiated Slides Southerly facing slopes While temperatures will remain fairly cool, the very low density snow will be quite susceptible to direct sun which could make it unstable enough to produce wet loose avalanches. Pay close attention to any southerly facing slope that becomes damp.
Additional Information

The recent storm will continue to slide to our east with gradually clearing skies and lingering light northeast winds with temperatures getting into the teens. Looks like we'll have partly cloudy skies on Tuesday and minor disturbances riding over the ridge that will move through our area periodically into Thursday. It seems like we may see a little snow accumulation on Thursday but nothing too much.

General Announcements

Go to http://www.backcountry.com/utah-avalanche-center to get tickets from our partners at Park City, Beaver Mountain, Canyons, Sundance, and Wolf Mountain. All proceeds benefit the Utah Avalanche Center.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Powder Mountain Ski Patrol Dispatch (801-745-3773 ex 123)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8.

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Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

Wasatch Powderbird Guides does daily updates about where they'll be operating on this blog http://powderbird.blogspot.com/ .

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email by clicking HERE

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For a print version of this advisory click HERE.

This advisory is produced by the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist. Specific terrain and route finding decisions should always be based on skills learned in a field-based avalanche class.

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