Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Monday morning, March 10, 2025

The avalanche danger is MODERATE on steep northwest, north, and northeast-facing slopes at mid and upper elevations, where human-triggered avalanches on one of two buried weak layers are possible. These avalanches could be 1–4 feet deep and hundreds of feet wide.

While the likelihood of triggering one of these instabilities fits within the MODERATE category, the consequences remain much higher.

Avalanche danger will also rise to MODERATE on all remaining aspects and elevations due to wet snow avalanches with daytime warming. This problem is all about timing—danger will increase throughout the day as the sun heats the snow. Start early, watch for signs of warming, and get off solar slopes before they become unstable.

In the Provo Region, wet snow avalanches can run long distances, sometimes reaching below the snow line and crossing summer hiking trails. This means that even those not traveling in avalanche terrain could be caught in a late-afternoon wet slide descending from above.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

Learn how to read the forecast here

Special Announcements

We are heartbroken to confirm that 51-year-old Micheal Janulaitis of Marion, Utah, was killed in an avalanche on Friday, March 7th, near Hoyt Peak. Micheal was caught and carried while skiing a steep, northeast-facing run in Hoyt Bowl. Our deepest gratitude to the Department of Public Safety, Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Village Snow Safety and Ski Patrol teams, and Wasatch Backcountry Rescue for their efforts in recovering Micheal and bringing him home to his family. Micheal was a friend of the UAC, and we are grateful for the time we shared. This is a tremendous loss for our backcountry community, and he will be deeply missed.

We are compiling accident details and a preliminary report can be found HERE.

March kicks off our Spring Campaign! If everyone in Utah’s backcountry community donates the cost of something they regularly enjoy on an adventure—like a dawn patrol burrito, a backpack snack, or post-ride trailhead drinks—we could fund not just one but two forecasters for the entire season! Donate here. Thank you!

Weather and Snow

Today's snow, weather, and recent avalanche activity was written by Jeremy Collett, the Utah Avalanche Center KBYG Coordinator.

Current Conditions: At 6 AM skies are clear and temperatures are in the upper 30s and low 40s. Most weather stations have not dropped below freezing since yesterday morning. Winds are from the southwest and general light, gusting 25-35 mph, with highest elevations recording gusts up to 50 mph overnight.

Today will be similar to yesterday, with clear skies and temperatures warming into the mid to upper 40s to low 50s. Winds will be from the southwest with speeds of 10 to 15 mph gusting to 25 to 35 mph with occasional stronger guests at the highest elevations.

Looking ahead: The next storm is slated to move into the area on Wednesday and could bring 0.8” to 1.8” of SWE and 8” to 18” of snow to the Provo area by Friday.

Recent Avalanches

No new avalanches reported in the Provo area mountains. Trent and Eric made their way down to the Provo area mountains yesterday.

Check out all avalanches and observations HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

There are two persistent weak layers of concern in the backcountry right now:

The first layer is faceted snow beneath last week's storm snow, easily identified by a dirt layer marking the storm’s start.
The second is the same deep, sugary faceted layer that’s been with us since the holidays—the culprit behind multiple avalanche fatalities in Utah this season. This deep weak layer now sits 2–4 feet down, and any avalanche breaking here would be large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. It’s most likely found on thinner, shallower slopes, especially in areas that have already slid once or twice this season (repeaters).

Recent fieldwork is pointing to improving stability and a trend in the right direction, but both layers of persistent facets remain a concern. The best way to confirm if these layers are present? Dig. Use your shovel and probe to check the snowpack before committing to steep terrain.

Photo (Porter) showing the depth of the dirt layer below the surface.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Peak wet snow instability occurred over the past few days when cold snow was first exposed to warm temperatures. The snowpack seems to be adjusting well to warm daytime temperatures and cold clear nights.

That said Provo did not have a solid refreeze overnight, and wet snow avalanches are still possible today, and you can expect to see them as temperatures rise. These will begin late morning into early afternoon on steep, southerly-facing slopes at all elevations, with west-facing slopes becoming active later in the day. You may also encounter wet avalanches in low and mid-elevation, north-facing terrain.

Timing is key—get off steep, sunlit slopes as they warm, as the danger will rise to MODERATE.

Pay attention to changing conditions, if temperatures rise rapidly danger could even spike to CONSIDERABLE during peak daytime temperatures.

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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures