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Observation: Provo

Observation Date
1/20/2023
Observer Name
Graves, Wilson, Hardesty, Torrey
Region
Provo
Location Name or Route
South Fork/ Cascade
Weather
Sky
Broken
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
The day started out with broken skies and no wind. It was a picturesque, sparkly day in the mountains. One that made us remember why we love these places so much. These conditions continued for most of the day with moments of the clouds parting. As the day went on, we noted that winds started to pick up out of the East transporting snow on the highest ridgelines of the Cascade crest.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
4" to 6" of low-density snow from the last few days of trickling moisture.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The only sign of instability we saw today was a few loose dry avalanches on steep slopes. These avalanches were on small, steep, isolated terrain features in gullies and near rock outcroppings and they were not entraining much snow as they ran.
Comments
We went into today to assess conditions in the southern Wasatch and wanted to see if snow depths in the Provo area were consistent with other deeper snowpack areas in the Wasatch where the November facet layer gained strength and has become dormant. We found a nearly 2-meter-deep snowpack at 8000' and the general impression was that it was deep and consistent with that of the deeper snowpack areas in the Central Wasatch. It was evident that the area went through a significant natural avalanche cycle, with signs of multiple avalanches running nearly full path and leaving large debris piles.
Photo 1: Small Loose-dry avalanches noted on low-elevation steep gully walls.
Photo 2: Evidence of a large natural avalanche. Mid-elevation west-facing avalanche path, snow nearly 10 feet high on the uphill side of the tree, and branches were broken off.
Photo 3: Large debris pile at the bottom of a north, northwest facing avalanche path.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates