Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Saturday morning, January 25, 2020

The avalanche danger is LOW on all aspects and elevations. Remember LOW danger does not mean there is NO danger in the mountains today. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Even small avalanches in steep sustained terrain can be fatal if you're taken for a ride. Use safe travel protocol by only exposing one person at a time to avalanche terrain. Carry rescue gear and keep an eye on your partner.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Special Announcements

NEW UAC Podcast - The Art of Storytelling Through Film - A Conversation with Trent Meisenheimer check it out HERE.

Join Drew Hardesty at the new Black Diamond Store at Trolley Square at 7:00 PM on January 27th for a Fireside Chat on Expert Intuition and the Avalanche Problem.

Weather and Snow

Under mostly cloudy skies and some fog the mountain temperatures hover in the upper teens °F at 10,000'. Lower in the canyon (7,500') the temperatures are in the mid to upper 20's °F. Winds are from the northwest and are 5-10 mph with the occasional gust into the low 20's.

For today, we can expect light winds from the northwest with speeds of 5-10 mph with some gusts reaching 30 mph at 11,000'. We will be mostly cloudy this morning before thinning the clouds by late morning and into the early afternoon. In some places there will be fog and other places could see clearing with some sun possible. Green-housing (warming on all aspects) could be a player this afternoon.

The best snow and riding conditions will be found at upper elevations or above about 8,500' in elevation where the new snow is surfy and fast. Elevations below about 8,500' became damp and wet yesterday afternoon and on our exit it was like we had velcro on the bottom of our skis.

Our Week in Review which summarizes significant avalanche and weather events from this past week has been published. Click HERE.

Recent Avalanches

No new avalanche activity was reported in the Provo area.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Remember that LOW danger does not mean there is NO danger. Mountain travel is inherently risky. As the avalanche danger decreases we typically choose bigger terrain objectives and we need to remember that even a small avalanche can have serious consequences in steep sustained terrain.

Wind Drifted Snow: The northerly winds have been just steady enough to blow and move the fresh powder onto lee aspects across the upper elevation ridgelines. Be cautious of your first few turns off the steep ridgelines where you could trigger a small wind drifted snow avalanche. Steep mid slope break-overs and cross loaded gullies will also be a concern where there is a chance a small avalanche could release within the new snow.

Cornice: Many ridgelines now have large and overhanging cornices. As you travel along ridgelines be sure to give cornices a wide berth as they typically break much further back than expected.

General Announcements

CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures