Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation NEW - Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Tibble Fork

Observation Date
4/15/2023
Observer Name
Kelly, Williams
Region
Provo » American Fork » Tibble Fork
Location Name or Route
Tibble Fork
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Clear skies with light northwest winds. Winds picked up light gusting to moderate above 8,000' but it was sporadic with light more the general wind speed. Temperatures were just over freezing 34˚F at the start of the tour and close to 46˚F by the time we got back to the parking lot.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Surface was re-frozen with a thin layer of firn-spiegel on the surface at the start of the tour. This layer had some dirt mixed in with it. We had good firm travel up from Tibble Fork started to feel the affect of the sun at 0900. by 1030 the south and east facing aspects were good skiing and we were off the snow before we started to dig any deeper than an inch or so even in the low elevations as we got closer to 6,400'
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
There were signs of recent wet loose avalanches on solar aspects and signs of rapid warming with wet loose pin-balls starting small point releases out of the cliff bands on west-south-east-northeast facing aspects. North facing slopes (which we didn't travel on today) appeared to be smooth. We observed signs of wet snow activity along the roadsides.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The wet snow avalanche problem will continue to be an issue with afternoon warming. With the extended forecast showin light to no re-freeze this could become a problem and avoidance is the best mitigation method.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Cornice
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
We saw evidence of massive cornices on the ridgelines around Tibble Fork and Deer Creek. These cornices are huge and I would avoid travelling under or next to them.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None