Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Provo Area Mountains Issued by Evelyn Lees for Thursday - February 12, 2015 - 6:43am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is LOW this morning, and avalanches are unlikely. As the day and snow heats up, the danger will increase to MODERATE on steep, sunny slopes, where it will become possible to trigger small, damp loose sluffs. If you are heading to the Logan area mountains or the Western Uintas, check out their area specific forecasts, as the danger is higher in these regions.
special announcement

Snowshoeing in the backcountry is safer and more fun when you have at least a basic understanding of avalanches. Nobody wants to travel with a partner that can't make informed decisions, or be counted on in a rescue. Spend an evening in the classroom and a day on the snow with pros. Learn how to get out in the backcountry, have fun and come home ready to do it again. Join us Thursday February 19th from 5:30-8:30pm and Saturday February 21st from 8:30am-4:00pm for a Backcountry 101 for snowshoers. Space is limited. Sign up HERE.

Join us February 19th and 21st for a Women's Intro to Avalanches at Snowbasin. Learn how to travel safely in avalanche terrain. This workshop begins with a three hour evening class in Ogden, followed by a 6 hour on-the-snow field day. Taught by Paige Pagnucco, Evelyn Lees and several others from the Utah Avalanche Center and members of Snowbasin Ski Patrol. Space is limited. Sign up HERE.
current conditions

Skies vary from clear to partly cloudy this morning, as bands of high thin clouds move across northern Utah. Temperatures are in the mid-twenties to low 30s and winds are from a westerly direction. Most stations are averaging less than 10 miles per hour, with only a few of the highest peaks registering average speeds of 30 mph, with gusts to 35.

Turning and riding conditions are very good in dry, soft snow on upper elevation, northwest through northeasterly facing slopes. Most other aspects and the lower elevations have a variety of crusts, which will soften with day time heating. The low elevation snowpack has taken a hit, and approaches and exits are rocky to downright difficult, especially in the Provo and Ogden area mountains.
recent activity

The only reports were of minor dry and wet loose sluffs and some very localized cracking in wind drifts that didn’t move.

Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

The avalanche danger is generally low, and significant avalanches are unlikely. However, a variety of small avalanches are possible, just large enough to catch and carry a person on foot in steep terrain.

  • Warm temperatures combined with periods of direct sun will heat the snow, and people will be able to trigger shallow, wet loose sluffs on steep slopes. These may be large enough to warrant a pockety Moderated danger in the heat of the day. The snow on mid-elevation shady slopes may also become damp enough to sluff.
  • Small dry loose sluffs can be triggered on steep, shady slopes
  • Cornices are sensitive, and they could break back further than expected or even on approach.
  • Isolated, small wind drifts along the higher ridge lines, could crack out beneath you.
weather

It will be another spring like day, with temperatures warming into the upper 30s at 10,000’, and into the mid-40s at 8,000’. The winds will remain from a westerly direction, and generally average less than 10 mph. Only a few of the highest peaks and ridges will have speeds reaching 25 to 30 mph. Abundant high thin clouds will stream over the area, though periods of direct sun may become more common this afternoon. Friday will be similar, though with fewer clouds and slightly warmer temperatures. Cooler air is in the future – a cold front Monday could bring a few inches of snow and 10,000’ temperatures in the teens.
general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

EMAIL ADVISORY  If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.​ 

DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides Blog/Itinerary for the Day.  

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

Discount lift tickets are now available at Backcountry.com.  Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts.  All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here. IMPORTANT: Before skinning or hiking at a resort under new snow conditions, check in with Ski Patrol.  Resorts can restrict or cut off access if incompatible with control and grooming operations.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI:  Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC.  Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell.  You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

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