UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Brett Kobernik
Issued by Brett Kobernik for
Thursday, November 26, 2015

The majority of the terrain has a LOW avalanche danger today. There is a MODERATE avalanche danger along the ridgetops where spotty wind slabs might release under the weight of a person. Watch for any cracking when you are in the upper elevations which would indicate there may be fresh sensitive drifts present.

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Moderate
Considerable
High
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Weather and Snow

The mountains received 4 to 5 inches of snow during the passage of a cold front late Wednesday afternoon. Not much more fell overnight. Southwest winds were fairly strong during the snow event but have really tapered off in speed overnight. A few stations are hinting at a slight easterly component. Temperatures dropped into the mid to low teens.

Recent Avalanches

No significant avalanche activity was reported from Wednesday. Our snowpack throughout the Wasatch has deteriorated with many areas now holding copious amounts of faceted snow. Snow safety teams at both Powder Mtn and Snowbasin have made mention of poor snowpack structure recently. This is not a huge concern at this time but it is something that we really need to pay attention to when more storms roll through. This faceted snow has the potential to act as a persistent weak layer once it gets buried.

I have not visited the Ogden area mtns yet this season but I'm under the impression that conditions are similar to what we are seeing in the Central Wasatch. For a few more details, check out our backcountry observations from the Cottonwoods on Wednesday:

Salt Lake 11/25/2015 Observation: Silver Fork Kobernik Staples White Details
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
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Location
Likelihood
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Description

If you hunted around enough yesterday, a person could find a recent drift which may crack out. The new snow coupled with some wind may have created a few new drifts as well. For most folks out today, this won't present much problem. If you are monkeying around in steep terrain along the higher ridges, this is the place you might find problems. Buried facets may act as a weak layer under some of these drifts making them a little harder to assess.

Additional Information

We'll see partly to mostly cloudy skies today with a slight chance of snow showers. Light snowfall is more likely later in the afternoon. Easterly winds will increase in speed especially north of I-80. High temps today should get into the upper teens to low 20s.

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.

To get help in an emergency (to launch a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911. Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort/PCMR Dispatch (435)615-1911

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

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.

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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 exist.