Provo Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

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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 starts out at MODERATE and will rise to CONSIDERABLE as the day progresses. Get off of steep slopes as they heat up and become wet and sloppy. Plan your exit so you are not exposed to large avalanche paths or confined gullies.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Under cloudy skies, it was another night above freezing. Temperatures were in the mid 30s to around 40 at the 8000 to 10000 foot range. Southerly winds remain just slightly breezy with gusts near 20 at 9000 feet. The snow surface has become wet producing rollerballs on all aspects up to at least 10000 feet. The snowpack is isothermal in many locations but not yet on the northerly slopes above around 9000 feet.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 10 hours.

Heat related activity is the number one concern today. The clouds and wind should help counterbalance the continued warm temperatures but the consecutive nights with no refreeze is the significant warning. It’s not a day to put yourself in confined terrain such as couliors or other terrain traps. I would avoid bigger terrain like Stairs Gulch and upper Broads Fork. With this type of warming trend, it’s possible that there could be some large natural avalanches. I’m not sure if that will happen today but I’d travel as if I was expecting it. Anticipate loose wet snow avalanches as well as the possibility for a deep slab release.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Today looks like a repeat of yesterday with warm temperatures, partly cloudy skies and slightly gusty south winds. We should see temperatures around 50 at 8000 feet and 40s along the ridges. Temperatures remain warm tonight with no significant refreeze again. Sunday looks similar to today with slightly gustier conditions. A large trough moves inland over the southern California coast and weakens as it lifts northeast toward our area. This will produce a short lived period of snow on Monday. At this point, I’m thinking 2 to 4 inches of accumulation is possible.


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 and Park City – 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.

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone http://utahavalanchecenter.org/twitter)

Daily observations are frequentlypostedby 10 pm each evening.

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UDOT canyon closuresUDOTat (801) 975-4838

Wasatch Powderbird Guides does daily updates about where they'll be operating on this blog http://powderbird.blogspot.com/.

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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.