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

We have a Level 2 (MODERATE) avalanche danger in the upper elevation north through southeast facing terrain on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Out of wind effected terrain the danger is Level 1 (LOW). Stay out from under steep southerly facing terrain during the heat of the day, especially gullies.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Southwest winds increased quite a bit over the last few hours with gusts along the mid elevation ridges near 30 and into the 40s, 50s, and 60s along the higher peaks. Temperatures are very mild with most stations above freezing and many of them in the mid to upper 30s. Outside of the warm and windy weather, there’s not much to report.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

This morning’s winds may have transported snow into drifts that may be sensitive to people today. They’ll be primarily on the northeast aspect but watch for them on any terrain feature that has some east in it. The consequences if you trigger these probably won’t be huge unless you’re in exposed terrain like above trees or rocks. Jump on fresh drifts where you can find them in safe terrain to get a feel on how they’re behaving. Once you get an idea of their sensitivity you can use slope cuts in starting zones prior to diving into the slope.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Outside of any fresh wind slabs that may be forming the snowpack is currently fairly stable. You’ll want to keep an eye out on the sunny slopes checking for minor heat related avalanches. There’s some persistent weak snow to keep in mind especially once we see new snow added to our pack. The persistent weakness is in the mid and upper elevation northeast through southeast facing terrain. You’ll need a slope approaching 40 degrees to get anything to release.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Winds will be strongest this morning and gradually taper off later today. Mostly clear skies and very mild temperatures are in store as well. Looking ahead, winds will increase from the south and remain some what breezy through the early portion of the week ahead of an anticipated storm starting early Thursday morning.


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

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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.