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Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Trent Meisenheimer
Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Thursday morning, December 3, 2020
Today the avalanche danger is LOW on all aspects and elevations. Danger ratings are based on the North American Public Danger Scale defined by three categories. LOW danger is defined as follows:
Travel Advice: Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
Likelihood of Avalanches: Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely.
Avalanche Size and distribution: Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
Announcement: Please visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.
The holiday season is right around the corner!! Looking for that special something for your partner? or yourself?
Well, we've got an easy shopping solution for you...Buy your gifts at our Pray for Snow online auction.
Weather and Snow
Under clear skies, the current mountain temperatures are in the mid-teens °F above about 8,000' while the valley bottoms and lower elevation trail-heads sit in the single digits. Mountain winds have relaxed overnight and are currently blowing northerly at 10-15 mph across the high elevation terrain. Mid elevation anemometers are reading speeds of 5-10 mph. Another clear, cold, and sunny day is on tap for the Provo range.
As I look into the future using my crystal ball, I see a much welcome storm slated for the 10th-12th of December. This storm will be small but perhaps bring 5-10" of new snow to northern Utah. * Disclaimer - I am not very good with my crystal ball, so don't hold your breath with this storm and stay tuned as we are all doing our snow dance awaiting a change in the weather pattern.
Riding and Turning conditions: "The Juice ain't getting to be worth the squeeze," as my good friend Weston Dutschlander said in a text message to me yesterday. It's getting harder and harder to find soft turns out there. Most slopes have crusts and wind damage, and only the most protected mid and upper elevation shady terrain holds soft snow.
Recent Avalanches
None
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Our shallow snowpack has many hidden rocks and stumps just barely covered by the snow, and that remains the biggest hazard at the moment. Yesterday, I found some small isolated wind slabs that would pop out easily with my skis; these were shallow (1-2" deep) and were not very concerning because the terrain I was in was mellow. However, the consequence of a small avalanche drastically changes given the terrain you're in.
We keep talking about the faceting snow and how our snowpack is getting weaker and weaker as each clear and cold day rolls by. I took a stab at explaining it in the video below. If you know someone new to the backcountry or someone in their first few years of BC riding, please try and share the message that we have a very dangerous snowpack set up in Utah, and when it snows, we will see deadly avalanches.
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
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.
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