Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Bruce Tremper for Monday - December 16, 2013 - 7:11am
bottom line

Level 2 (MODERATE) means HUMAN-TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE POSSIBLE.

There is a Level 2 (Moderate) avalanche danger for three different avalanche types today: 1) Localized areas of persistent slabs exist on upper elevation west through north through east facing slopes, 2) Localized wind slabs exist in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain and 3) wet avalanches are possible on steep, southerly facing slopes. You can find good riding and safer conditions at mid elevation shady slopes less steep than 30 degrees.
current conditions

The doldrums continue with clear skies, a strong temperature inversion and a full moon tomorrow. Temperatures remain very warm in the mountains with a balmy 28 degrees at Alta's Collins weather station this morning and a forecast high of 40 today. Very strong winds yesterday morning blew from the northwest 50, gusting into the 60's along the high peaks, which caused further wind damage to upper elevation wind affected terrain. Soft, fluffy, faceted snow still lingers on mid elevation, wind sheltered slopes but the entire snowpack has rotted away so it is becoming increasingly punchy with difficult trail breaking.
recent activity

There was no significant avalanche activity noticed or reported from the backcountry yesterday. I did notice an Instagram post yesterday of what appeared to be a small, triggered slab with a cautionary note but I have no way to know if it actually occurred yesterday or the location. Please let us know if you have more information. As always, you can contribute to our avalanche community by posting on our Observation Form or leaving us a message at 800-662-4140. We also heard about one small, loose, dry sluff onto the road in Big Cottonwood Canyon and a small wet avalanche on the south facing slopes above the town of Alta.
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

With many days of clear skies, the snowpack continues to rot away. It's top-to-bottom faceted snow in most locations. As the slab above the weak layer rots away it looses its energy and it reminds me of thumping on an overripe watermelon. Most of the persistent slabs are temporarily dormant right now but you can undoubtedly find some you could trigger especially ones with recent wind drifts.

Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 18 hours
description

The strong winds from the northwest yesterday morning undoubtedly created some fresh wind deposits, which you should definitely avoid today. But we didn't hear about any wind slab problems yesterday from the resorts or the backcountry possibly because the snow had already experienced wind so there was much less snow to blow around than normal. Still, there has to be some boobie traps out there, which will look smooth and rounded and most of them will probably be stiff and hard. As usual, avoid steep slopes with recent wind deposits.

Wind damaged snow on Red Baldy in White Pine Canyon
Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Finally, with very warm temperatures in the mountains combined with strong sun, we will probably continue to see localized, wet activity on the steep, southerly-facing slopes. As usual, get off of, and out from underneath, steep slopes when they get wet in the heat of the sun. There's not much snow on the south facing slopes as it is, so hopefully we won't melt it down to the rocks again.
weather

We will have yet another fabulous, warm, sunny day in the mountains. The daytime high should top out around 40 degrees. Ridge top winds will be moderate around 25 mph from the west-northwest with higher winds on the high peaks. Tuesday looks like more of the same but about 5 degrees warmer.

Our next chance for snow will be Thursday as a strongly splitting storm heads to southern California and Mexico leaving us with a measly skiff of new snow. If we're lucky, it will temporarily blow out the smog in the valleys. We may even be able to squeeze a little more snow out of it on a cold northwest flow afterwards.
general announcements

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.

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), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).

Sundance Dispatch (801-231-4150)

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Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

We'll soon be lining up a new automated emailed advisory delivery system - stay tuned.

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To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  Some allow uphill travel and have guidelines, some don't. Contact the Ski Patrol at each resort for details. IMPORTANT: Before skinning at a resort under new snow conditions, check in with Ski Patrol.  Resorts can restrict or cut off access if incompatible with control and grooming operations.

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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.