Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

AVALANCHE WARNING »

Dangerous avalanche conditions are occuring or are imminent. Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Notice:

An AVALANCHE WARNING is in effect for the Logan area mountains where they’ve received 20 inches of new snow with 1.6 inches of water weight on top of weak old snow from earlier in the season.

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE in terrain above 9500 on northwest through east facing slopes which means dangerous avalanche conditions are present and human triggered avalanches are likely. The danger is significantly lower in areas that don’t have old snow from October and don’t have recent deposits of wind drifted snow.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Snow totals from overnight are 5 to 9 inches from the Ogden mountains through the Salt Lake Mountains with around 6 inches in the Provo Mountains. This snow contains about a half inch of water or a bit more. Westerly winds bumped up overnight with good speeds for transporting snow. Temperatures are mostly in the teens but in the single digits along the ridgetops.

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

The most dangerous situation out there today is an avalanche breaking deeper into buried, weak faceted snow from earlier this season. This is not going to be an “in your face” situation like last week which makes things a little more tricky. Collapsing of the weak layers has slowed over the last 5 days with good snowpack settlement occurring. We’ve only added about a half inch of water weight overnight which, in itself, wouldn’t ramp the danger way up but keep in mind the winds will have loaded some slopes with more weight. Also, you can’t deny the overall snow structure. The weak faceted snow is still present in those upper elevation northerly slopes. Extended Column Test results have been more stubborn but are still propagating in many areas which nicely illustrates the poor structure. I consider a poor snow structure a BIG red flag. Expect human triggered avalanches if you choose to get on an upper elevation slope with old weak snow.

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

Your next concern will be fresh drifts of wind blown snow. These won’t be breaking out all that big but a small ride through rocky terrain would not be ideal. Watch the more easterly facing slopes for fresh drifts from the westerly winds. Pay attention to areas with stiffer snow and any cracking in the snow as you travel.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

The storm is winding down with only a few snow flurries still possible. Temperatures will be in the teens along the upper ridges and low 20s at 8000 feet. Westerly winds should slow a bit more into the light to moderate category. It looks like we’ll see unsettled weather Sunday into Monday with a few snow flurries possible ahead of a ridge of high pressure for mid week and another storm shaping up for later in the week.

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)

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.