Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Mark Staples for Wednesday - November 30, 2016 - 7:39am
bottom line

For today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Instabilities in the storm snow are gaining strength and the odds of triggering this type of slide are decreasing. Unfotunatley the odds of triggering a deep, persistent slab avalanche will not improve for some time.
current conditions

This morning temperatures are in the mid teens F and winds are blowing westerly at 10 mph with gusts of 15 mph. Yesterday had NW winds blowing similar speeds and under mostly cloudy skies, temperatures reached the mid 20's F. With little wind, cloudy skies, and cold temperatures, great powder can be found on many slopes.

Storm totals from Saturday through Tuesday morning in the Provo mountains is 25" (2.05" of water) at 7500'
recent activity

There have been no reported avalanches in the Provo area mountains. Otherwise there were several slides triggered by explosives near Salt Lake City in Little Cottonwood Canyon. These broke 2-4 feet deep at the ground. This area had more early season snow than the Provo mountains.
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

There are several subtle density changes in the new snow where avalanches could break. This instability should be gaining strength fairly quickly and there were no significant avalanches reported during explosives work at ski areas. The good news is that winds shifted from NW to W overnight, but have not increased and shouldn't be transporting any more snow. The other good news is that this type of instability is easy to assess with small test slopes and slope cuts.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

A dangerous, deep persistent slab avalanche problem exists on upper elevation North facing slopes or any slope that had old snow earlier this month. Many places in the Provo mountains did not have enough early season snow or any snow at all to create this problem. However, it is worth looking for. Until we get a better sense of the distribution of this layer, it's best to dig to the ground and look for it, or avoid high northerly aspects all together.
weather

Lingering moisture today will keep skies cloudy this morning with some snowflakes in the air but no accumulation. Skies will become partly sunny with temperatures reaching the low to mid 20's F. Winds will continue from the West blowing 10-15 mph. By tomorrow winds will shift to the NW bringing colder air and a more moisture which should only produce a few inches of snow.
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.