Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Brett Kobernik for Sunday - December 21, 2014 - 6:58am
bottom line

The avalanche danger will rapidly increase today into Monday. We will most likely reach a HIGH avalanche danger by mid day today. People should avoid being on or below any steep slope. Stay out of terrain traps such as steep walled gullies at all elevations.
avalanche warning

A WARM WINTER STORM WITH HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WILL MAKE AVALANCHE CONDITIONS INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS THROUGH MONDAY. HUMAN TRIGGERED AND NATURAL AVALANCHES WILL BE LIKELY TODAY THROUGH MONDAY ON STEEP TERRAIN ABOVE 8000 FEET.

RAIN BELOW 8000 FEET MAY PRODUCE UNSTABLE AVALANCHE CONDITIONS AT LOWER ELEVATIONS AS WELL.
current conditions

Snowfall started overnight with around 2 inches of new snow. Densities are in the 10% range and expected to increase. Winds are starting to increase from the west and temperatures are slowly rising. Most stations above 9000 feet are in the low to mid 20s. It will be a day of rising avalanche danger. If you choose to venture into the backcountry, careful route finding will be essential.
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

We have well known persistent weak layers within the snowpack. We will rapidly overload these layers today with heavy snowfall and wind loading. Avalanches breaking into these layers have the potential to be large. Today is not the day to be on or below avalanche paths.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The low density snow that fell over the last few days and is just now getting covered up could act as a weak layer as we continue to add higher density snow on top of it. Wind will enhance this issue. This problem will be most pronounced on the east half of the compass but winds will cross-load terrain features on all aspects.
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

The rain-snow level will climb up to around 8000 feet today with rain below that. Rain falling on cold loose snow may make things unstable at lower elevations as well.
weather

Snowfall, winds and temperatures will all increase as the morning progresses. We should see heavy snowfall with strong northwest winds today. As temperatures increase, snow densities will follow suit. Ridgetop highs will be in the mid to upper 20s. The rain-snow level will be up around 8000 feet by mid day. We are anticipating 12 to 24 inches of snow with the upper Cottonwoods receiving the high end amounts. This will add 2 inches or more of water weight. It looks as if snowfall will now taper off a bit earlier on Monday than originally thought.
general announcements

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, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

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 (801-223-4150)

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DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT

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

Wasatch Powderbird Guides Blog/Itinerary for the Day.  

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

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To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here. IMPORTANT: Before skinning or hiking 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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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 exist.