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Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Trent Meisenheimer
Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Sunday morning, February 20, 2022
Today, the avalanche danger is LOW in the backcountry. Avalanches are unlikely, and the snow is stable on most slopes with only a few exceptions.
Use normal caution. Watch for and avoid (1) stiff deposits of wind drifted snow on steep upper elevation slopes, and (2) new snow or loose recrystallized snow sluffing in very steep terrain.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
Southwest flow will increase today ahead of an approaching cold front (storm) that will come through the northern mountains around midnight tonight. Snow should begin to fill in tonight and last into Monday with the hopes of getting 5 to 12 inches of new snow by Tuesday. The good news is it stays relatively active through the week with periods of light snowfall and colder temperatures. The bad news is that this storm doesn't seem to have a lot of moisture. But, as my friend and meteorologist, Larry Dunn likes to say, " if you have enough dynamics, you don't need moisture."
Under clear skies this morning, the mountain temperatures range from 24 to 33 °F. Clear skies will eventually give way to increasing wind and clouds. The winds have backed (turned counterclockwise with height) and are now blowing from the southwest at speeds of 10-20 mph, gusting into the 20's & 30's across the upper elevations. Mountain temperatures will climb into the upper 30's and low 40's °F later this afternoon.
Recent Avalanches
None.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The snowpack is generally stable, and natural and human-triggered avalanches are unlikely. In isolated areas, you may encounter:
  • Shallow soft or hard slabs of wind drifted snow. Wind-drifted snow often looks wavy, rounded, pillowy, and can sound hollow like a drum when walking or riding on it. As always, it's best to look for and avoid wind-loaded slopes.
  • Expect fast and long-running dry loose avalanches in steep terrain, aka sluffs. These sluffs can happen within the new snow or just under the new snow within the weak faceted snow.
Additional Information
On Wednesday, February 16th: Trent Meisenheimer (SLC), Brett Kobernik (Skyline), Drew Hardesty (SLC), and Toby Weed (Logan) discuss the current dry weather and try to reminisce on history in 2007 when a similar dry period happened.
General Announcements
Who's up for some free avalanche training? Get a refresher, become better prepared for an upcoming avalanche class, or just boost your skills. Go to https://learn.kbyg.org/ and scroll down to Step 2 for a series of interactive online avalanche courses produced by the UAC.
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.