Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Mark Staples on
Wednesday morning, April 7, 2021

Today, the avalanche danger is MODERATE with heightened avalanche conditions on slopes receiving direct sunshine and slopes with wind drifted snow. The new snow will become wet on many slopes and produce wet loose avalanches. Where the snow is shaded and remains dry, look for recently formed soft slabs of wind drifted snow.

At low elevations with less new snow to become wet and produce avalanches, the avalanche danger is LOW.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

Yesterday, 2-6 inches of snow fell (.15-.48 inches of water) and winds were blowing 15 mph from the west and northwest with some gusts 30 mph at upper elevations.

This morning under clear skies, temperatures are mostly in the mid 20s F . Winds are mostly blowing 5-10 mph from the northwest.

Today will have clear, sunny skies. Warm air will slowly move up from the south although the strong sunshine is what will really help temperatures warm into the upper 30s to low 40s F. Winds will shift from the northwest to the west blowing 10-15 mph.

Recent Avalanches

Yesterday there were some soft slab avalanches of new snow and wind drifted snow triggered by ski areas in the Cottonwood Canyons.

As always, find all recent observations HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The new snow (2-6 inches) will warm quickly, become wet, and produce shallow, wet loose avalanches sliding on the ice crust underneath this new snow. You can trigger these slides at your feet; however, the main threat will be having one of these slides happen naturally above you.

Most of the wet avalanche activity should happen predictably on slopes receiving direct sunshine, starting with east facing slopes and progressing to south facing and then west facing slopes. Other slopes with exposed rocks and cliffs and some mid elevation, north facing slopes may warm up quickly and produce wet loose avalanches.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Soft slabs of wind drifted snow mostly formed during stronger, westerly winds yesterday. Today you should be able to trigger these wind slabs about a foot deep at upper elevations. On slopes receiving direct sunshine, some of these slabs may release naturally as they quickly warm and possibly become wet. On more northerly facing slopes that could be cross-loaded, these wind slabs should be stabilizing and becoming less easily triggered.

Additional Information

General Announcements

Please visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.

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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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