West/southwest winds will continue to drift snow at the mid and upper elevations. Although most drifts will be found on leeward aspects facing north through southeast, cross-loading and the winds being channeled through terrain mean drifts may be possible on any aspect at the mid and upper elevations. These drifts will generally be 6-12" thick, and may break out widely in open, exposed terrain, possibly breaking above you.

To read more about the complexity of wind-loading patterns, Drew has an excellent observation from Broads Fork in the Salt Lake mountains on Monday (link). In particular, note how upper elevation west aspects are wind-scoured, yet those same aspects at the mid elevations are wind-loaded. [photo: Hardesty]

Cornices are quite large, and continue to grow during this windy period. Avoid traveling underneath cornices, as well as anywhere near the edge of ridges as cornices may break back much further than expected. Although now a few days old, it is worth reading this excellent observation from Sunday (link) where the author cautions "Please, stay back from the edge! Even further than you think."

Assessing the snowpack in the Provo area mountains in avalanche terrain at mid and upper elevations on NW, N, NE, E aspects (and upper elevation SE) is difficult. Recent natural avalanches have broken at the ground in the Provo mountains, and control work on Sunday at a Cottonwood resort in the Salt Lake mountains produced a slide breaking down 3-4' deep in facets at the ground . Although it is hard to assess the likelihood of triggering one of these avalanches, the consequences of getting involved in one is likely deadly. The only mitigation strategy we have is to avoid avalanche terrain for now.

Photo: Zoomed in view of the natural avalanche that was spotted last week.