Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Brett Kobernik for Monday - February 16, 2015 - 5:13am
bottom line

There is an overall LOW avalanche danger today.




special announcement

Our events and avalanche classes are going at full-tilt in February -

Fireside Chat at Black Diamond - Come down to Black Diamond this Wednesday at 730pm for our monthly Fireside Chat. UAC Director Bruce Tremper will be hosting this informal event.

Companion Rescue Workshops - Be confident in your backcountry avalanche companion rescue skills. We have two four hour clinics coming up - Sat Feb 21 9am and Friday Feb 27 5:30pm. For more info, go to our Events page here.

Backcountry 101 for Snowshoers. Snowshoeing in the backcountry is safer and more fun when you have at least a basic understanding of avalanches. You'll learn about recognizing avalanche terrain and become proficient in companion rescue. Join us Thursday February 19th from 5:30-8:30pm and Saturday February 21st from 8:30am-4:00pm. Space is limited. Sign up HERE.

Women's Intro to Avalanches at Snowbasin. Join us February 19th and 21st for a Women's Intro to Avalanches at Snowbasin. This workshop begins with a three hour evening class in Ogden, followed by a 6 hour on-the-snow field day. Taught by Paige Pagnucco, Evelyn Lees and several others from the Utah Avalanche Center and members of Snowbasin Ski Patrol. Space is limited. Sign up HERE.

current conditions

We have a few clouds moving through from the northwest early this morning. Temperatures and winds vary with elevation. 9000 foot ridges have temps in the mid 20s and light west winds. 10000 foot ridges are around 20 degrees and moderate speed west winds. 11000 foot peaks are in the low teens with stronger gusts from the west northwest. Since the temperatures cooled off over the last 24 hours you will find many frozen snow surfaces from snow that was previously wet. Sheltered upper elevation northerly terrain still has spots of soft cold snow.

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

The snowpack is generally stable right now.

weather

A storm to our north brushes northern Utah and we'll see clouds today and maybe even a snowflake. We're in a cooling trend into Tuesday so temperatures won't get a whole lot warmer today than they currently are. Ridgetop winds will be from the northwest with light to moderate speeds. The stronger gusts over the highest peaks should slow as the day progresses. Things clear out Tuesday with ridgetop highs around 20. Wednesday warms up again and then temps cool off into the weekend.

The big picture remains the same; ridge over the western US, trough over the eastern US.

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)

EMAIL ADVISORY  If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.​ 

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, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

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

Discount lift tickets are now available at Backcountry.com.  Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts.  All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

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.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI:  Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC.  Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell.  You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

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.