Forecast: Provo Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Provo Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Wednesday morning, January 21, 2026

The avalanche danger is LOW. You can expect generally safe conditions, and normal caution is advised.

With increased winds, watch for fresh wind drifts in exposed upper-elevation terrain. Out of the wind zone, the snow surface continues to weaken, so pay attention to small loose dry avalanches in steep terrain.

Even a small avalanche could be consequential in complex terrain.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

Learn how to read the forecast here

Weather and Snow

This Morning, skies are clear, with trailhead temperatures hovering in the teens while ridgetop temperatures are in the low 20s °F. Winds are out of the west northwest, with gusts in the 20s to 30s along some mid and upper elevation ridgelines.

Today, expect sunny skies with temperatures rising into the upper 30s °F. Winds will remain out of the west northwest, with gusts up to 40 mph along the highest ridgelines and in exposed upper elevation terrain.

Outlook: The dry pattern will continue through most of the work week. There is still some chance for a system to brush past us Friday into Saturday, though most models show it likely tracking south of the area.

Recent Avalanches

No new avalanche activity was reported. However, we continue to receive several quality observations from the backcountry, including UAC forecaster Bo Torrey's observation from Cascade Ridge on Friday and Brooke Mashund was at the Ant Knolls on Sunday.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

There is no single, dominant avalanche problem today, and overall conditions are generally safe. That said, avalanches are still possible in isolated terrain, especially at the upper elevations.

You may still encounter:

Small wind slabs on upper elevation ridgelines and around terrain features where snow has drifted
Loose dry sluffs on very steep slopes, especially where the snow remains shallow or unconsolidated. As the snow surface continues to weaken, the loose dry problem may become more common
Loose wet avalanches on sunny slopes as the snow warms during the day
Outlier slab avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer. Thin, steep, rocky slopes and areas with a shallow snowpack remain the most suspect

Take advantage of the favorable weather to practice companion rescue skills, including beacon searches, probing, and strategic shoveling.

Additional Information

Where Did the PWL Problem Go?
Think of the snowpack like any other material under stress. Adding new snow or wind load increases weight and tension in the system. Take that loading away long enough, and the snowpack slowly settles, releasing some of that stress. Avalanches become less likely over time, even though the facets don’t disappear entirely.

This is a period of dormancy. The problem still exists, but is currently quiet. It’s been over a week since the last reported slab avalanche, suggesting the snowpack is reaching equilibrium. That said, additional loading or warming could reactivate this layer.

During this stretch of high pressure, the snow surface is weakening and becoming faceted, especially in wind-protected terrain. Once buried, this surface snow will likely be the next layer we’re watching and could become the next persistent weak layer. It’s worth keeping an eye on how much the surface continues to weaken over the next week.

General Announcements

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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures