Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Drew Hardesty on
Saturday morning, December 11, 2021

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry.

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all steep northwest to east facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations. This terrain is to be avoided. Accidents occur on days like today,

You can trigger 1-2' deep avalanches today while on, above, below, or adjacent to steep terrain.

Riding conditions are good on low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

Skies are clear with mountain temperatures in the single digits and low teens. Winds are light to moderate from the southwest.

Storm totals are roughly 12-16" with nearly 2.0" of snow water equivalent.

Snow depths are now 2-3' up high and riding conditions are vastly improved.

The Outlook -

For today, we'll see increasing high clouds with light to moderate southwest winds. Temperatures will rise to the low 20s F by the afternoon.

As this storm fades from memory, our attention turns to the next storm churning in the Pacific. We'll see warming temperatures and increasing southwest winds Sunday and Monday ahead of what looks to be a decent snowfall event Tuesday/Wednesday. Southwest winds ahead of the storm are forecast to average 50-60mph.

Recent Avalanches

We didn't hear of any avalanches in the Provo mountains, but I expect that they mirrored dangerous avalanche conditions from the Salt Lake Mountains. We heard about numerous human triggered avalanches 1-2' deep and up to 1000' wide yesterday. Cracking and collapsing were the rule and not the exception.

This was our experience in the SLC mountains yesterday: When you experience significant cracking and collapsing 200 yards from the trailhead (see video below), it's clear that all steep terrain that held old snow from October is off and to avoided.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Loud booming collapse and shooting cracks yesterday on the PC ridgeline

All the signs of dangerous avalanche conditions will be less evident today than yesterday, but conditions remain equally dangerous. Our primary issue is the interface of the recent storm snow on the old snow surface. One can easily dig down and see weak, sugary faceted snow at this interface and this combination of one to avoid.

For now, I am avoiding being on or below all steep west to north to east facing terrain at the mid and upper elevations.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Wind drifts remain prevalent on north to east to south facing slopes, but are generally scattered around the compass. These drifts are likely to be more stubborn than yesterday and may break well above the rider on the slope.

Additional Information

Danger Trend: I expect increasing avalanche danger and a fresh batch of wind slabs from the stronger southwest winds tomorrow through Tuesday.

General Announcements

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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.

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