Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Drew Hardesty

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

We've got a couple of FREE avalanche education events coming up:

A Free Avalanche Awareness talk this Wednesday, November 30, at 9 pm at Milosport- 359 E University Pkwy, Orem, Utah 84058

A Free Women's Avalanche Beacon clinic, Dec 5th, 8:30-11:00 am, at the Albion Grill, Alta.

Click on Education in the main menu for a complete listing of avalanche classes and talks.


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 remains MODERATE on localized steep, northwest, north and northeasterly facing slopes above about 9,500’, where a person could trigger a 1 to 2’ deep avalanche. While the chance of triggering one of these deeper avalanches is decreasing, the consequences of getting caught remain the same - a terrible, rocky, pounding ride that might be unsurvivable.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Another weak little wave came and went. Skies cleared overnight with temps now in the low 30s at most mountain stations. Westerly winds are generally light. Wind, sun, and temperature crusts (even on the higher northerly aspects) make for challenging riding (it was pointed out that my 9 year old son has fatter skis than I do) but then again we all go in to the mountains for different reasons. Dry winters make stoics and philosophers of us all.


RECENT ACTIVITY

We’ve had no reports of any significant cracking, collapsing or avalanche activity since Friday.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

“He ain’t dead, he’s just asleep.” Snow structure remains poor and snow stability tests continue to produce evidence that the old October/November rotten snow 1-2’ down may still activate with human triggering in isolated terrain. Complicating matters is the weak snow developing at or just beneath the snow surface. If and when it snows – perhaps Wednesday night’s winds may suffice (more below), I’ll expect avalanches on both interfaces. It won’t be pretty.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Ski Wendover has a nice ring to it. The next Pacific storm arrives late Wednesday – we may see up to 4” or so – but it’ll all be blown toward Nevada with the accompanying strong easterly winds. The storm subsequently dives further south and spins over the CA/AZ border, though one weather model hints at something over the weekend. I wouldn’t get too excited.

In the meantime, we’ll have mostly sunny skies today, light westerly winds, and temps in the low to mid 30s at 10k and low 40s at 8000’.


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

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.