Bottom Line for the Provo area mountains:

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the mid and upper elevations of the Wasatch mountains - as the snow piles up and the winds continue to blow, the avalanche danger will rapidly rise to CONSIDERABLE on steep, wind drifted slopes. On mid and upper elevation northwest through southeasterly facing slopes, it will be possible to trigger slides on the old snow weak layers from a distance and any new snow slides may break down into these deeper weak layers, resulting in larger and more dangerous avalanches. If you head into the backcountry today, use conservative decision making, careful route finding and good travel habits. Training and experience are essential for backcountry travel today. Below about 8,000', where the new snow is falling on bare ground, the avalanche danger is generally LOW.

The cold front is racing across the Great Salt Lake, and is forecast to reach the northern Wasatch mountains between 8 and 10 am. Ahead of the front, strong southwesterly winds have been tearing across the range, with 30 to 50 mph averages, and gusts in the 40 to 60 mph range. Even in more sheltered locations and at lower elevations, gusts are in the 20's and 30's. Pre-frontal precipitation on the southwesterly flow has been in the 1 to 3 inch range in the Provo area mountians. Temperatures started to drop after midnight, and are currently near 20 at 10,000'.

No new avalanche activity was reported from the backcountry or the resorts yesterday, and we do not have any observations from the Provo area mountains, due to the lack of low and mid elevation snow.  However, if you are hiking to the snow line today, be aware that the avalanche danger is increasing today. I expect new snow and wind slab avalanche activity, with the possibility of slides breaking down into the deeper weak layers.

Full conditions today... the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning that will remain in effect until 5 pm Sunday, with heavy snow and strong northerly winds creating wild winter conditions. Snow totals of a foot or more expected by 5 pm, with lightning and intense precipitation rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour possible around frontal passage. The winds will shift to the northwest this morning, and remain in the 20 to 30 mph range, with gusts to 50 at the 10,000' level. Gusts to 70 mph are possible across the highest peaks. Temperatures will fall throughout the day, into the low teens to single digits by evening. Periods of snow tonight, with storm totals of 16 to 24” by Sunday afternoon, with temperatures near zero. A cold and unsettled pattern, with more snow, will continue through much of next week.

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 UDOT highway avalanche control work info can be found by calling (801) 975-4838. Our statewide toll free line is 1-888-999-4019 (early morning, option 8).

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If you’re getting out and see anything we should know about please let us know.  You can leave a message at (801) 524-5304 or 1-800-662-4140, or email us at uac@utahavalanchecenter.org. (Fax 801-524-6301).

The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Brett Kobernik will update this forecast by 7:30 on Sunday morning.