Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

There are pockets of Level 3 (CONSIDERABLE) for deep slab avalanches, especially in steep, thin, rocky, northerly-facing slopes. There is a Level 2 (MODERATE) danger for fresh wind slabs from southwest winds and a Level 2 (MODERATE) danger for wet sluffs on steep, south facing slopes that heat up in the sun today.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Strong winds from the southwest yesterday afternoon drifted quite a bit of snow along the upper and mid elevations and continue to do so today. Yesterday's clearing clouds in the afternoon put a slight sun crust on the south facing slopes but there is still very nice powder on the northerly facing slopes. Trail breaking has become progressively easier as the snow has settled so you can actually go into the upper Cottonwood Canyons without a pig wallow.

RECENT ACTIVITY

No significant activity reported yesterday from the backcountry of the Wasatch, but avalanche control continued to produce some large, explosive-released avalanches from the upper elevations of the Cottonwood Canyons, some breaking 6 feet deep. These were in steep, rocky, unsupported slopes that were loaded by the strong south winds on Friday.

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

Those pesky winds from the southwest came up yesterday afternoon and will blow again today. They drifted quite a bit of snow and will continue to build wind slabs today. Avoid steep slopes with recent wind deposits, which you will find mainly on the upper and mid elevation slopes on north facing slopes but the swirling winds will load many other aspects as well.

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

There have been just enough large, explosive-triggered avalanches yesterday and the day before to keep me nervous about deep-slab avalanches. These have occurred mainly on steep, upper elevation, rocky, unsupported slopes that were loaded by the strong south winds this past weekend. These are the classic monster slabs that are difficult to trigger but if you do, it will definitely be your last. I ain't messin with em.

THREAT #3
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 10 hours.

The strong spring sun should beat down on the mountains today combined with ridge top temperatures that will warm rapidly to near freezing. That said, we have some high clouds this morning with strong south winds, which will limit the warming at upper elevations but lower elevations out of the wind should produce the usual round of wet sluffs on the steep, sun-exposed slopes, espeically if the sun comes out.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

We should have rapid warming today but with high clouds this morning and strong southwest winds today, it will not feel as warm as it is. It looks like the high clouds should clear out by afternoon but the southwest ridge top winds should continue 30 mph with higher gusts for today and on Tuesday.

We should have a mostly clear, but blustery, day on Tuesday with a weak shot of snow and wind on Wednesday and perhaps a stronger system about a week from today.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lost my snowboard. It fell out of the back of my truck at some point last Sunday off I 80, from Mt Aire, exit 132, to just pass the mouth of Big Cottonwood. Black M3, about 161 length. cochran.erinl@gmail.com

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.