Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Drew Hardesty

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

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BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

Pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger remain on the northwest to north to east facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations. While the deep slab avalanches are increasingly difficult to trigger, the consequences remain the same. In climber's parlance, the route's unprotected, and it warrants an X rating. A mistake means a ground fall, resulting in a serious injury or death. Proper route finding and low angle slopes are the ticket. A MODERATE danger exists for the new hard wind drifts and today's storm snow.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Overcast skies and strong southerly ridgetop winds sit above the inversion blanket this morning, signalling the arrival of today's Pacific storm. It is not a particularly favorable storm pattern for northern Utah as it looks as if most of the moisture and energy dives south. Again. The southerly winds picked up just before midnight and are blowing 25-35mph with gusts to 50 along the ridgelines. In less exposed areas, such as Tom's Hill - in mid-BCC - the winds are generally light. Temperatures are in the upper teens and mid-20's.

Riding conditions declined yesterday from the stronger southerly winds Sunday night, but lower angled mid-elevation sheltered terrain still offer soft settled powder. Warmer temperatures left a very thin crust on even the sheltered mid-elevations, but shouldn't provoke many complaints.


RECENT ACTIVITY

Second hand info came in about a skier taking a ride in the Brighton/Solitude backcountry two days ago on a steep northwest facing slope at 8700' - that apparently was a repeater from last Sunday's storm cycle. They lost some gear and we didn't hear about any injuries. This is the 2nd repeater we've heard about - the other being above East Pass of East Bowl of Silver Fork.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Avoidance and abstinence have been the key. The few getting into steeper northerly terrain, however, strictly mapped the terrain that previously avalanched, gauging whether a new slab has formed above the lingering weak, faceted snow. With plenty of on-snow work and analysis, this terrain has been roughly good to go. Unfortunately the stronger winds of the past 24 hours and today's expected "snowfall" has and will only cover up the mostly veiled crowns and flanks from last week's cycle. And, as many of the slides from the avalanche cycle only cleaned out some of the weak faceted snow, it may be back to square one. Old slidepaths may become repeat offenders.

Though more difficult to initiate, tests continue to indicate full propagation at or within the basal November facets and/or depth hoar. This supports the notion that avalanches may be more difficult to trigger, but may break out wider than expected. Tracks on the slope can offer little reassurance.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

The warmer temperatures and stronger winds have likely reduced the carpets of surface hoar to isolated patches and scraps. Thin hard slabs formed Sunday night as well as overnight will be present, but spotty, in the mid and upper elevation lee terrain. Rounded or hollow features should be approached with caution and may break above you.


THREAT #3

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

I expect the new snow to bond fairly well to the rough, warm, corrugated crusts on the south and off aspects, and human triggered sluffing will occur only on the steepest slopes. On the northerly slopes, I expect a poor bond of what remains of the surface hoar and recrystallized snow surface.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

No, it's not a favorable storm system for us. But we'll take what we can get. 6-8" may fall in favored terrain over the next 24 hours. One starts to turn philosophical this time of year, particularly this year. Perhaps small gains can be found in the absences of something, rather than the something itself. It may be enough that the winds die down when the storm moves overhead midday and that the smog in the valleys mix out. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper teens, winds will should become light and variable later on, then veer northerly and increase tonight. High pressure builds for the remainder of the week and into the weekend.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Sundance, and Solitude have donated a limited number of tickets for sale at discounted prices.

For the Wasatch Powderbird Guides schedule go to their blog

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: call 888-999-4019, option 8,

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

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Send us your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email to uac@utahavalanchecenter.org

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The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Evelyn will update this forecast tomorrow morning. Thanks for calling.


This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.


This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.