Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Little Cottonwood Canyon is closed for a short period this morning while avalanche control work is performed.

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

Today's advisory compiled and written by snow and avalanche apprentice Wendy Wagner, approved by Brett Kobernik.

The avalanche danger needs to be treated as CONSIDERABLE today until proven otherwise. An expected late morning increase in snowfall and moderate to strong winds throughout the day will likely keep the danger at CONSIDERABLE. Wind slabs and soft slabs will the main concern in areas that have been wind effected, mainly in the mid to upper elevations on north through east through south facing slopes of around 35 degrees and steeper. Stay out from under avalanche paths. Also, sluffing within the storm snow will be something to keep in mind.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

The strong southwesterly winds finally died down overnight and early this morning have veered to the west and northwest in most locations, gusting in the teens. However, it doesn't seem the wind is over yet and is expected to increase today. The new snow from yesterday put down a fairly uniform 10 - 12 inches across the range and 12 - 16 inches in higher locations with densities ranging from 10-12%. Mountain temperatures are currently in the mid-teens.

RECENT ACTIVITY

There were only a handful of observations reported from yesterday. Avalanche activity was mainly limited to the new snow and increased throughout the day with both the strong southerly winds and periods of heavy snowfall. Sensitive soft slabs were easily triggered in wind effected areas mostly in the upper elevation northerly aspects. These were around 4 - 10 inches deep, failing in the new snow, just above the old surface dirt layer, and propagating around terrain features. One came out remotely. Most of these soft slabs were 50 - 200 feet wide running on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. One of these ran full path obscuring trees in the powder cloud at the bottom of Days fork. There was some wet activity in the Argenta Chutes that started from new snow and gouged down into wet unconsolidated underlying snow producing some scary piles of debris. The activity seen yesterday was slightly more pronounced than last week's storm and required careful terrain management skills.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Wind slabs will be the main concern for today. Yesterday's soft slabs in wind effected northerly terrain may still be sensitive today, though have likely settled out as new snow instabilities often do. Currently, the winds have shifted to the northwest and are expected to increase. Additional snowfall with the increased winds could continue to produce sensitive wind and soft slab conditions, especially along the ridges in the mid to upper elevation wind effected locations. These may propagate around terrain features and run long distances entraining a significant amount of snow. Keep in mind that these may be able to be triggered remotely meaning you could trigger something above you.

THREAT #2
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Storm snow instabilities will increase this morning as another shot of 5 - 9 inches of snow is likely to fall. Sluffing in the new snow should be mostly manageable but keep it in mind and be aware of steep gullies or areas these sluffs can pile up.

THREAT #3
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Wet activity probably won't be much of a concern but I would be wary of lower elevations where the snow is damp and unconsolidated under the new snow. If the new snow gets moving at these locations, things may gouge down into the wet snow and produce sizable piles of debris.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

We are just beginning several days of an active weather pattern. We should see 5 - 9 inches of snow today, heaviest snowfall rates should be in the late morning hours. Later this afternoon into tonight we may see another pulse of snow in the 4-6 inch range. Snowfall densities will be light as the flow is currently veering to the northwest bringing in cooler temperatures. Friday we should see a quick break in the storm then Friday night another storm moves in for the weekend.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The ability to deal with medical emergencies is a vital backcountry travel skill. On April 9-11, Utah Wilderness Safety will be conducting a Wilderness & Remote First Aid course in SLC. As an added bonus, WMS has agreed to donate a percent of the class proceeds to the FUAC. For more details, go to our events calendar or www.utahwildernesssafety.com/FIRST-AID.html.

SLC: Please contact Alta Central (801-742-2033) if you trigger a large avalanche in the backcountry, especially if you are adjacent to a ski area, to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Ogden: Please contact Snowbasin ski patrol (801620-1000/1017) if you trigger a large avalanche in the backcountry, especially if you are adjacent to a ski area, to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Provo: Please contact Sundance ski patrol (801 -223-4150) if you trigger a large avalanche in the backcountry, especially if you are adjacent to a ski area, to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com and the local resorts donated lift tickets, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Utah Avalanche Center. To get the last few tickets left for Park City, Beaver Mountain, and Sundance – click here at discounted prices.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides flight plan.

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

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

Free UAC iPhone app from Canyon Sports.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

We appreciate all your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or fill out the observation form on our home page.

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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.

Drew 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.