Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Mark Staples
Issued by Mark Staples for
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE at upper elevation where slabs of wind drifted snow can avalanche. At mid and lower elevations wet snow avalanches of loose snow are possible and the danger is MODERATE in these areas as well.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
Weather and Snow
Currently:
Temperatures are near 40 at 6000 feet, near freezing at 8000 feet and in the mid 20s F above 9000 feet.
Strong southerly winds continued overnight and are blowing 20 mph gusting 30-40 mph this morning. At low elevations they are gusting to 20 mph and at the highest peaks some gusts have hit 60 mph.
These winds have damaged the riding quality on many slopes and warm temperatures have made the snow wet at lower elevations. Finding soft dry powder will be hard today.
For Today:
Strong southerly winds will continue and temps should continue warming today with the rain/snow line climbing above 7000 feet by the end of the day. An inch or two of snow could fall today with a touch of rain below 7000 feet.
Recent Avalanches
At Ogden area resorts, ski patrols reported stubborn slabs of wind drifted snow. They triggered some hard slabs that were big enough to bury a person.
On Monday, an experienced rider intentionally triggered a wind slab on an east aspect on North Ogden Divide, briefly taking a ride before exiting the slide. You can read more about this occurrence on this link. [Photo: ogdenavalanche.org]
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The main avalanche issues to watch out for are slabs of wind drifted snow. Winds don't have much snow left to transport, but they were still moving small amounts of snow yesterday. This avalanche problem can be tricky as some drifts and slabs stabilize while others remain unstable. Also with such strong winds, many of these slabs are quite hard meaning they will let a person get further onto them before they break. Another complicating factor is that some of these wind slabs are resting on a rain crust and some small faceted grains. This is not a widespread issue but one that will keep some of these wind slabs unstable.
These wind slabs are best to identify visually as they look smooth, rounded, pillowly, etc and typically exists adjacent to slopes that have been scoured. The photo below is a great example of scouring and with the arrow showing where you'd expect to find a fresh slab that could avalanche. They should be mostly a concern at upper elevations.
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. Reports of cornices breaking off naturally further highlight this issue.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Watch for small sluffs of wet snow at mostly at low elevations but possibly at mid elevations as well. The surface snow at low elevations is likely wet this morning. Warming temperatures and a chance of some rain below 7000 feet could make this avalanche problem become more likely as the day progresses.
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.