Please join us at the 23rd annual Black Diamond Fall Fundraiser Party Thursday Sept 15. Tickets are on sale now here, at the Black Diamond store & at REI. Special bonus raffle for online ticket purchasers! |
Please join us at the 23rd annual Black Diamond Fall Fundraiser Party Thursday Sept 15. Tickets are on sale now here, at the Black Diamond store & at REI. Special bonus raffle for online ticket purchasers! |
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains | Issued by Evelyn Lees for Friday - January 15, 2016 - 7:13am |
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special announcement
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current conditions Light to moderate snow is falling in the mountains this morning, and overnight totals in the Provo area mountains are around 6 to 7” range. Winds are from the southwest, slowly shifting to the west, and averaging 10 to 15 mph. Speeds at the mid elevations averaged close to 30 mph overnight, with gusts near 40 mph. Temperatures have warmed into the teens and low 20s. |
recent activity Yesterday in the backcountry, small sluffs and wind slabs were easily triggered – just large enough to catch and carry a person. They were on shady slopes, failing on the weak, faceted old snow surface. A few larger naturals occurred on northerly facing slopes in the upper elevation wind zone, around 11,000’. Here are the most recent observations from the Provo area mountains.
Left: Sluffing, Mark White photo Right: Cracking in wind slabs
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type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
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description
We finished off the high pressure with a layer of weak, faceted snow on the shady slopes, and have been slowly loading it with new snow.
Today, I think we will finally have a stiff enough slab in wind-affected terrain for avalanches to be easily triggered, and even a few natural slides to occur if the winds increase as forecast. On many slopes, the weakest old snow is in shallow snowpack areas, including slopes that slid early this winter. Slides can be remotely triggered from a distance today, pull back further than expected along the ridgelines, and run longer than average distances, entraining snow as they move down the hill. These slides will be large enough to bury a person.
Avalanche accidents often occur during periods of increasing danger. Winds are forecast to increase this afternoon, so be observant and ready to switch to wind sheltered terrain if speeds pick up where you are. |
type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
|
description
Even out of the wind-affected terrain, expect to trigger loose snow sluffs and small soft slabs on steep slopes of all aspects, including the sunny slopes. These will be new snow only, but still large enough to catch and carry a person. I still have thoughts about the deeper weak layers in the snowpack, but think today’s activity will be new snow only. |
weather The small storm scooting through northern Utah this morning could drop another 2 to 5 inches of snow before it tapers off midday. 10,000’ temperatures will cool into the low teens by afternoon. The winds are slowly shifting to a more northwesterly direction, and may increase slightly, into the 20-25 mph range at 10,000’. There will be a break in the snowfall this afternoon through Saturday morning, followed by a small, warmer, windier storm Saturday evening into Sunday. |
general announcements
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Advisory Hotline: (888) 999-4019 | Contact Information