Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Greg Gagne
Issued by Greg Gagne on
Friday morning, April 12, 2019
The avalanche hazard is generally Low, but there are enough concerns - especially with unpredictable spring weather - that warrant an overall Moderate hazard. The primary avalanche issues include recent storm snow as well as recent and new wind drifts. Additionally, if the snow surface warms today, avalanches involving wet snow are possible. Have a flexible plan that allows you to quickly respond to changing conditions.
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Special Announcements
Daily early morning avalanche forecasts will end Sunday, April 14. We will issue early morning forecasts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Easter weekend (April 19-21). Throughout the rest of April, we will issue intermittent updates with any snowfall or other significant weather events, and we will continue posting observations.
Drew Hardesty just penned another wonderful blog piece, Meditations on Skiing the No-Fall Zone.
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Weather and Snow
Skies are overcast and mountain temperatures are in the 20's F in the Provo mountains. Northwest winds are now light and < 10 mph.
In the winter that continues to provide, some mountain locations picked up an inch or two of snow late yesterday afternoon, with storm totals since Wednesday of 12-18" in the Provo mountains. Riding conditions are brilliant.
For today, expect temperatures to rise into the 20's and low 30's F. Winds will be out of the northwest, and generally light, with gusts in the teens. Snow showers are possible throughout the day, with isolated areas picking up 1-3" of new snow. Skies should remain mostly-cloudy, and thunder is possible, especially during the afternoon.
Recent Avalanches
Most backcountry observations from Thursday reported a generally stable snowpack. We did receive an observation from the Provo mountains involving a small avalanche on Mill Canyon Peak in American Fork Canyon (observation). (pic: Jonathan Gal)
Planning on heading to the Salt Lake mountains (which received more new snow than the Provo mountains) over the weekend? Be sure to read our Week in Review as you make plans for today and this weekend:
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
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Description
The chance of triggering an avalanche today is generally Low, but there are enough concerns, especially with unpredictable spring weather, that warrant your careful attention today:
Wind Drifted Snow - Yesterday in the Salt Lake mountains, my partner and I (observation) were finding isolated pockets of fresh wind drifts that were generally unreactive to ski cuts. You are most likely to find any recent wind drifts along upper elevation ridges, especially on any aspects facing north, through east, and south. These drifts may be up to 6-12" deep.
New Snow - The 12-18" of storm snow has settled into a dense, cohesive slab, and it has bonded well to the old snow surface. A density inversion on Wednesday was reactive early in the storm cycle, but indications are it has settled out. yesterday's skier-triggered slide in Mineral Fork in the Salt Lake mountains (photo below pic:Torrey/Hawley) is a reminder this layer may still be reactive in isolated areas. Although any new snow amounts are likely to be small, sluffing in storm snow is possible during any extended period of heavy precipitation.
Wet Snow - Clouds, cool temperatures, and snow showers should prevent wet activity today, but if the sun peeks out for any extended period or you notice greenhousing (where clouds trap warmer temperatures), you can expect the storm snow to quickly become reactive. This includes both wet loose sluffs as well as larger wet slabs. I would be especially aware of this problem on steep sunny aspects as well as all aspects at lower elevations. Watch for rapid changes in the snow surface such as rollerballs, and have an exit plan that allows you to quickly respond to wet snow activity.
Additional Information
Spring is here and it is time to adjust our travel. Learn what to watch for during spring avalanche conditions when the snow becomes wet.
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.