Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

The overall avalanche danger for today is Level 2 (MODERATE). Watch for the new snow to become unstable in terrain that receives direct sun. Be careful of recent deposits of wind drifted snow mostly on east through south facing slopes along the ridges. Lastly, pay attention to any collapsing you experience and stay off of slopes where surface hoar is still preserved deeper in the snowpack.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

We are on a roller coaster ride with the temperatures again plummeting into the single digits overnight. Skies are clear and winds are light from the northwest. The snow surface is tasty powder that’s slightly wind effected along the higher elevations. This sits on a very stout rain crust at most locations.

RECENT ACTIVITY

No avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry on Wednesday. I found the newest snow to settle rapidly as the day progressed. Even with some snow transport from the north occurring afternoon, the southerly facing drifts were not very sensitive. There was a small amount of cracking but things were stubborn.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 8 hours.

As we’re well passed the solstice and the sun is getting higher in the sky, we need to start thinking about it after each new snow storm. Temperatures won’t get out of hand today but the direct sun on the new snow may be enough to make it active. Watch for roller balls and stay out of the bottom of gullies. Southeast facing slopes will heat first so watch where you are as the morning progresses.

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

A second concern is fresh drifts that may still be sensitive today. The drifts that I was molesting on Wednesday seemed quite stubborn but I wouldn’t let my guard down just yet. These are most pronounced on east through south facing aspects and you’ll need at least 35 degrees in steepness for something to move. Use slope cuts to test these so you’re not caught off guard. Burial is unlikely with these but you could get carried.

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

Lastly, I don’t like to cry wolf but I’m still a bit weary of the buried surface hoar. I liked what I found yesterday (MORE INFO) as I was examining the rain crust and weakness below but I didn’t like PATTERSON’S OBSERVATION from Provo with reports of collapsing of the surface hoar under the thick rain crust. Alta Lifts also reported one pocket breaking into surface hoar in un-compacted terrain during control work. The surface hoar varies from place to place as does the thickness of the rain crust. I guess I feel that we haven’t covered enough ground yet to totally dismiss this. Please take a close look at the rain crust and any lingering weakness below it and SUBMIT AN OBSERVATION.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

It looks like it’s going to be a great day out there with mostly clear skies with ridgetop temperatures rebounding into the upper teens to low 20s and light northwest winds which will gradually increase into tonight. Winds may increase enough tonight to do some damage to the snow. We remain in a northwest flow through the weekend with another chance for snow Friday night and then again Sunday night. Friday night’s storm should have similar snow totals to the recent storm.

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 by clicking HERE

Donate to your favorite non-profit – The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.

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.