Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Evelyn Lees

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

It will be another day of increasing avalanche threat, and avalanche conditions remain dangerous. The danger is Level 3 (CONSIDERABLE) in the Park City, Salt Lake and Ogden area mountains, and still Level 4 (HIGH) in the steep terrain in the Provo area mountains. Anytime snowfall rates or winds increase where you are, the avalanche danger will rapidly rise, with natural avalanches more likely. Those without excellent route finding or snow analysis skills should enjoy the powder at Utah’s world class resorts.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

A final round of snow is in progress – about 1 to 6” of 10% to 15% density snow has fallen in the past few hours, and temperatures are 5 to 8 degrees warmer than yesterday morning. The winds are from the south to southeast, averaging 15 to 20 mph, with gusts 25 to 35 mph. In the Provo area mountains 36 hour snow and water totals are significantly more, almost double that of the more northern mountains.

Yesterday there was some tough trail breaking, especially in wind drifted areas, and I expect it could worse today with the “upside down” conditions – dense snow above lighter snow.


RECENT ACTIVITY

With some clearing yesterday, the results of a widespread early morning natural avalanche cycle were visible at times yesterday, with numerous shallow soft slabs and loose sluffs, partially covered with new snow. South and southeast facing slopes included, with interesting remotely triggered slide. Some collapsing was noted yesterday, mainly on slopes with east and south components. In Provo, long running debris off west side of Mt. Timpanogos was noted at 6,400'. More info and observations on our Current Conditions page.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 12 hours.

The new dense snow is landing on lower density powder, and could be quite sensitive on steep slopes today, especially during periods of heavier snowfall rates or where the snow is wind drifted. Natural avalanches are possible today. Once the snow starts moving, it could entrain more snow, deepening the debris piles. Mid angle slopes, around 35 degrees may be very tricky – they haven’t slid as often in the past few days, will be more stubborn, but could produce deeper and larger slides.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 12 hours.

Once again, warming temperatures today will produce rain on snow to about 7,000’. Wet snow sluffs and slabs at the lower elevations could occur, especially with a human trigger. Avoid the steep low elevation slopes, including the usual terrain traps of gullies, creek beds and short, steep road banks. Roof avalanches could occur again today with the warming temperatures and rain.


THREAT #3

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 12 hours.

Unfortunately, there are some mid pack faceted layers. Both people and new snow slides have the potential to trigger one of these deeper weak layers in isolated areas, which makes them hard to forecast. Shallower snow pack areas, including wind scoured ridgelines, and elevations between about 8 to 10,000’ are especially suspect around the compass, including south and easterly facing slopes. Facets mean slides can be trigged remotely, including from below.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

A final disturbance will bring 5 to 9 additional inches of dense, heavy snow to the Salt Lake and Park City mountains today, with ½ that to the mountains north of I-80 and up to a foot in the Provo area mountains. Winds will be from the south, and increase at times during the day, blowing across the high ridges in the 20 to 30 mph range, with gusts in the 40’s. Temperatures will continue their upward march, to around freezing at 8,000’, and into the upper 20’s at 10,000’. High pressure will build in on Thursday, with a drying and warming trend to through Christmas Day.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams 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.

Salt Lake – Alta Central (801-742-2033)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

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.

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.

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

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

You have the opportunity to participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 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.

We 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.