Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Join us for the Backcountry 101 Avalanche class on February 26 and 28. We'll do an evening lecture and a field day learning the basics about safe travel techniques, the magic of snow, rescue, and decision making in complicated conditions. In mid March, SheJumps will team up with the Friends for one final women’s Backcountry 101 - details to come.

There are just a few lift tickets left - to Sundance, Wolf Mountain and the Canyons ski resorts – 100% of the sale of these donated tickets goes to support the Utah Avalanche Center.

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 west through northeast facing terrain on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Out of wind effected terrain the danger is Level 1 (LOW). The danger will gradually be on the rise with additional snowfall this afternoon.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

South to southeast winds are still a bit gusty this morning with gusts in the 20s along the mid elevation ridges and gusting into the 40s along the higher ridges. Temperatures are in the teens to low 20s. Light snowfall has been reported already this morning.

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

The fresh drifts that formed over the last couple of days have been stubborn to fracture and I’d expect the same for today. Keeping an eye out for these fresh drifts will be your biggest concern for today. A slight easterly component to the winds may load some westerly facing slopes. This is not the usual loading pattern and it can catch people off guard. Also, on many westerly aspects, the January rain crust and associated weak layers have been sitting not far under the snow surface making for weaker snow. With a new wind load this may be one of the places an avalanche may break into persistent weak layers.

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

Storm snow probably won’t pose a real threat today but always pay attention when snowfall rates increase rapidly. Heavy snowfall coupled with a little wind can increase the avalanche danger real quickly.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

A large trough that is drifting to our south will feed moisture into our area starting today and through Sunday. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the low to mid 20s and southerly or southeasterly winds will continue to be a bit gusty through the day. We should see 4 to 8 inches into Sunday with additional accumulation possible during the day on Sunday.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Skis found - Mt Aire trailhead (Lambs Canyon exit). Call to ID 801-524-5304.

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.