This morning: Under mostly clear skies, snowfall has stopped and temperatures are in the low 20s F at trailheads and in the upper teens at ridgelines. Winds from the northwest are averaging 5-15 mph gusting to the mid-20s at ridgelines.
Today: Skies will become mostly sunny, and the Northwest winds will continue throughout the day. Expect mountain temperatures to climb into the mid 30s F. The northwest winds will average 5-15 mph, with gusts below 25 at mid-elevations. At upper elevation ridgelines, the winds will average 10-20 mph and gust up to 30 mph this afternoon, and increasing this evening.
Looking ahead: The weekend will have dry and cool weather. Another storm should arrive late Sunday night or early Monday morning. This one looks more promising.
Yesterday's storm capped a wide variety of snow surfaces which will determine future avalanche conditions as more new snow accumulates. Since Tuesday evening, trace amount-2 inches of new snow has fallen in the Provo area. There is an incredible amount of variability in the old snow surface which consists of weak facets, crusts of varying thicknesses and hardnesses, wind-eroded and sculped snow, and some areas are simply covered in tracks.
The challenge in the future is that having such a wide variety of snow surfaces means there will be a wide variety of stability from slope to slope and the pattern will be complex and tricky to map. With more cold temperatures in the forecast, the new snowfall may begin to weaken and facet at the surface, continuing to add to the wide variety covering the range. Pay attention to the changing snow surfaces before the next storm system.
Yesterday, in the Central Wasatch ski resorts and backcountry travelers reported easy sluffing and loose dry avalanches within the new snow, a few small soft slab avalanches up high in the wind zone, and one small wet slide on Superior.
No reports from the Provo area.
