Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Mark Staples for Monday - November 30, 2015 - 7:00am
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The avalanche danger is MODERATE today at upper elevations due to increased WNW winds where fresh winds slabs are resting on weak, faceted snow. On other slopes without wind drifting, the avalanche danger is LOW and avalanche conditions are generally safe. The biggest hazard remains hitting rocks or logs.




special announcement

There is still space in next weekend’s Backcountry 101 for Snowshoers. For a full listing of local avalanche classes, check out our Education Page.

We've posted a re-cap of this fall's Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop with videos of presentations from the public session

current conditions

The area of low pressure that has been parked over Utah for the last few days is moving slowly moving east and shifting winds to the WNW. This morning winds above 10,000 feet had increased to 15-20 mph with temperatures in the single digits F. Snowfall since Thanksgiving has totaled 6-8 inches of low density snow that has generally been untouched by the wind. It won't take much wind to transport this snow this morning.

recent activity

No reports from the backcountry of any avalanches.

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 thin and generally weak. I skied in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Pioneer Peak yesterday (observation). What is needed to have an avalanche problem is a fresh wind slab. Winds increased this morning above 10,000 feet from the WNW and will easily transport the low density snow that has fallen since Thanksgiving. These areas at upper elevations are the only places where unstable snow may be found. Otherwise the main hazard remains thin snow and the danger of hitting rocks, stumps, or deadfall.

weather

The back side of an area of low pressure is overhead today and will produce 15-20 mph winds from the WNW and keep high temperatures from rising above the teens F. The weather will be warming and drying for the next few days. Another storm is forecasted to come late this week, but it doesn't look too promising at this point.

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.

To get help in an emergency (to launch a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911.  Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort/PCMR Dispatch (435)615-1911

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

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.