Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Bruce Tremper

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

We have a couple of free avalanche awareness talks coming up this week:

Black Diamond, Tuesday, December 6, 7-9pm - DETAILS

The REI talk is full.

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

The overall danger remains Low with pockets of Moderate danger on any steep slope with recent wind deposits. As always, avoid any steep slope with the characteristic, smooth, rounded shape of a wind drift. Although the probability of triggering slides are on the low side, the consequences are extreme because with this thin snowpack, even a small avalanche will involve a nasty ride through rocks.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

If you like cold and breezy, you are in luck. This morning, it's -5 on the highest peaks with a 20 mph wind from the northeast. Down at 9,500' it's a balmy -2. A mighty 1 inch of snow fell yesterday.

Backcountry riding conditions continue their disappointing slide towards worse and worser. All this clear weather has rotted the entire snowpack into a nasty pile of faceted snow that is so weak that it is starting to sluff on the steeper, north facing slopes. If that's not enough, it's shallow and rocky. On the wind sheltered north facing slopes, you can still find some soft snow that rides like powder if you have a good imagination. (Mark White has some good photos from Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Our own, amazing Brett Kobernik has penned the first installment in this year's Facets Magazine. He explains the history of our rotted snowpack and has lots of graphs and photos of the development. Check it out.

RECENT ACTIVITY

No reports of avalanche activity yesterday from the backcountry.

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

The winds were fairly stiff last night from the east and northeast, especially in the Ogden area mountains, blowing 20-40 mph. Also, winds expected to pick up a bit stronger this afternoon and evening. Expect to find some wind drifted snow on the south and west facing slopes but cross loaded into other slopes as well. But the pre-existing snow is so dense an has already been wind blasted, so there is not much snow available for transport, so I'm guessing this will be a fairly minor problem. As usual, avoid any steep slope with recent wind deposits.

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

There may still be some lingering deeper slabs that you could trigger on the upper elevation, north through east facing slopes. Although the probability remains on the lower side, the consequences are extreme because even small avalanches will involve a nasty ride through rocks.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Temperatures will remain cold today as the sunny skies will cause temps to claw their way from below zero to around 10 degrees. Ridge top winds will blow 20-25 mph from the north and northeast.

For the extended forecast, temperatures will slowly warm over the next couple days into the 20's. There should be a slight disturbance on Thursday, but again, no significant snow expected as well as for at least the next 10 days.

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.