Advisory: Provo Area Mountains | utahavalanchecenter.org

Avalanche Advisory

Advisory: Provo Area Mountains	Issued by Mark Staples for Monday - March 14, 2016 - 7:14am

bottom line

The avalanche danger this morning will start at MODERATE but should rise to CONSIDERABLE on upper elevation, wind loaded slopes with forecasted heavy snowfall and strong W and SW winds.

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current conditions

As of 5 a.m.

A trace to 2 inches of snow had fallen.
Winds were blowing 10 mph gusting to 20 mph from the W and SW this morning.
Temperatures were hovering near freezing at 8000 feet.

Conditions will be changing rapidly today with more snow and wind expected.

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 main avalanche problem today is wind slabs. With only 3 inches of snow this morning, wind slabs are not a major problem yet but they will become more dangerous as the day progresses with more snow and wind. By afternoon some wind slabs could start releasing naturally. On northerly aspects at upper elevations, there are a few "funky" layers in the top 6 inches of the snowpack. One is a layer of graupel (see photo below) and the other is a layer of low density, slightly faceted, snow just under a soft crust. Neither of these will be a long lasting problem, but with a wind slab resting on them, the wind slab may fracture a bit easier and over a slightly wider area than it would if these layers were not present.

type

aspect/elevation

characteristics

LIKELIHOOD

LIKELY

UNLIKELY

SIZE

LARGE

SMALL

TREND

INCREASING DANGER

SAME

DECREASING DANGER

over the next 24 hours

description

The main avalanche problem today is wind slabs. With only 3 inches of snow this morning, wind slabs are not a major problem yet but they will become more dangerous as the day progresses with more snow and wind. By afternoon some wind slabs could start releasing naturally.

On northerly aspects at upper elevations, there are a few "funky" layers in the top 6 inches of the snowpack. One is a layer of graupel (see photo below) and the other is a layer of low density, slightly faceted, snow just under a soft crust. Neither of these will be a long lasting problem, but with a wind slab resting on them, the wind slab may fracture a bit easier and over a slightly wider area than it would if these layers were not present.

weather

Snowfall will resume this morning and bring 2-5 inches of additional snow today with another 2-5 inches possible tonight. Temperatures will warm somewhat today but should drop by afternoon as cold air descends from the north. Winds will blow mostly from the west 20-30 mph at ridgetops.

general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out 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 request 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.

Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.

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)
Ogden - Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123)
Provo - Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

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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.

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