Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Evelyn Lees for Thursday - March 17, 2016 - 7:06am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is MODERATE for triggering a wind drift on upper elevation slopes, especially those facing northwest through easterly. The likelihood of triggering a drift increases with elevation, especially above about 10,500’ or along ridge lines. There is also a MODERATE danger for triggering wet loose snow sluffs as the snow heats on almost any aspect and elevation except high north facing. Natural wet sluffs also possible if there is prolonged sun where you are.




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current conditions

Under partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the Provo area mountains are in the twenties to near 30 this morning, and I'm guessing a few teens on the higher peaks. The southwesterly winds are averaging 15 to 2 5 mph at the mid elevations, while speeds have increased once again across the highest ridge lines and peaks, with averages to 40 mph, and gusts to 60 mph.

Glimpses of sun yesterday instantly dampened the snow on the sunny slopes, which will be crusted this morning ‘til they soften, and the best powder will be on wind sheltered, shady slopes.
recent activity

Only Provo observation: evidence of a few very small wind slabs on E and NE right below ridges at 9,500ft. Cornices have grown quite a bit in past few days.

SLC/Park City area mountains: there were about 5 natural avalanches off the heavily wind loaded Cardiac ridge line, with at least one breaking in facets below a crust - additional photos have been posted in Mark White observation. There were also at least 4 unintentionally triggered smaller new snow slabs over the past 2 days, in Argenta and the East Couloir of Kessler, and on Murdock and Big Mac on the Park City ridge line. Check the details on the Avalanche Page - slides averaged 1-2’ deep, and were mostly on north through easterly facing slopes.

Cardiac avalanche – Bruce Tremper photo left, Mark White photo right
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

While most of the wind slabs should be less sensitive today, there will still be places where a person can trigger them. And the chance of triggering a wind slab increases significantly with elevation and travel near wind drifted ridge lines. Use visual clues of round drifts, cracking of denser snow, cornices formation, and scouring to help identify when you are in wind-affected terrain.

At least one of the Cardiac ridge slides broke below a crust, into older faceted snow – this is worrisome, and I am hoping it is not a trend. But it’s all the more reason to travel cautiously in steep, upper elevation northerly through easterly facing terrain, avoid the heavily wind loaded slopes and dig down and evaluate the upper snow pack. In the Provo areas mountains, snow pit tests are showing results on that same layering of small grained facets below a thin crust that is the storm interface, NW facing slope at 8800.

Obvious wind pillows and sculpting - Trent Meisenheimer photos
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

Wet loose sluffs are a bit more predictable, and hopefully that makes them easier to avoid. The snow will heat rapidly today, even with brief periods of sun, and both human triggered and natural wet loose sluffs are possible. When the snow becomes damp where you are and roller balls start to swarm, head to lower angle slopes or cooler aspects. Natural wet sluffs possible today, so avoid travel below steep sunny slopes and gullies. Green housing may occur with periods of thin clouds, heating the snow on the shady mid and low elevation northerly facing slopes as well.

weather

Skies will be partly cloudy today, with a mix of sun and clouds, and even a few snow flurries are possible, mostly north of I-80. The westerly winds will continue to be strong along the high elevation ridgelines, averaging 40 mph and gusting in the 60s. Speeds will drop off rapidly once you’re below the ridge lines, to averages of 10 to 15 mph. 10,000’ temperatures will warm to near 20 today, and 8,000’ temperatures into the low 30s. A ridge will move over Utah for the weekend, with lots of sunshine and a significant warming trend
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.

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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.