Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Evelyn Lees for Sunday - February 25, 2018 - 6:51am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all steep, upper elevation slopes, especially those with recent wind drifts, and on many steep mid elevation slopes. Other steep slopes have a MODERATE danger. Complex and dangerous avalanche conditions exist – cautious route finding, careful snow pack evaluation and conservative decision making essential.

You will find better and safer skiing and riding conditions on the numerous lower-angled wind sheltered slopes. But be aware of what's above you and avoid travel below steep slopes.
special announcement

We have discount lift tickets for Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Snowbasin, and Beaver Mountain. Details and order information here. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!
current conditions

The fast moving storm is on its way out, after dropping another 5 to 10" of snow in the Ogden area mountains, containing around ½” of water at the higher elevations. This wind blown low-density snow is capping off a week of steady snowfall.


While temperatures are actually above zero this morning, double digits readings are scarce, only to be found at the lowest elevations. Winds have varied from the southwest to northwest during the past 24 hours, reaching significant speeds at times of 15 to 25 mph averages at the mid elevations, with 30 -40 mph averages across the exposed higher peaks.

Snotel snow depth are now: Ben Lomond peak - 50”, Ben Lomond trailhead - 27”. Farmington and Monte Cristo have around 56” of snow on the ground.
recent activity

Moderate to heavy drifting yesterday created sensitive soft slabs and cornices in the Ogden area mountains. Huge dense slabs and pillows were reported above about 7500'. Some were unreactive to skis, but reactive to explosives. Heavy wind drifting (and poor skiing) reported from Cutler Ridge , with wind slabs failing on low density snow. The melt freeze crust from 2/17 was a reactive bed surface below about 8000’ in some locations.

Another great observation from Bill Brandt.
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Periods of significant winds the past 24 hours have built drifts onto a variety of aspects, most failing on the low-density snow as a weak layer. While the newest wind drifts will be easy to identify – rounded, smooth pillows of snow - yesterday’s wind slabs are now hidden under the new snow. Cracking of denser snow is sometimes an indication that you have hit a wind slab.

Cornices have continued to grow along the mid and upper elevation ridge lines. They often break back further than expected, so give them a wide berth and avoid travel below them.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

On some slopes, the faceted layers in our snowpack may have reached a breaking point. These deeper slides could be 2 to 3 feet deep, and are most likely to break on a mid-pack faceted weak layer, which are most widespread on northwest through easterly facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations in the Ogden area mountains. Any smaller triggered slide – such as a wind slabs or sluff – has the potential to step down to one of these deeper weak layers.

In the shallow snowpack areas, slides may break on the faceted snow nearer to the ground – for example, slopes that have slid one or more times this year and rocky terrain with a shallower snowpack Cracking and collapsing are bulls-eye clues to instability, but these clues may not be present, and snow pit tests are proving to be unreliable.
Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Storm snow soft slabs and loose snow sluffs can be triggered today on many steep slopes.
weather

This morning’s snow should taper off by around noon, with skies partially clearing. Temperatures will warm into the teens and low 20s. The westerly winds will remain brisk and gusty – at times averaging 25 mph averages at the mid elevations and 40 mph at the upper elevations. Increasing clouds and southwesterly winds tonight, with temperatures in the teens. Another small storm Monday night into Tuesday.
general announcements

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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 occur.