Winds cranked overnight in the Ogden area mountains - see graph in current conditions - and will continue to be the main influencer today as speeds are expected to average in the 30's mph with gusts upwards of 50+ mph. Though they'll blow primarily from the south, all aspects will be affected. Wind drifted snow will quickly form stiff wind slabs near ridgelines and crossloading will likely occur on or around terrain features like subridges and gullies on exposed slopes off the ridgelines. Avoid steep slopes with freshly wind drifted snow and look for obvious signs of instability like cracking or collapsing. See below for a great graphic describing the difference between hard and soft slabs and where they tend to break. Expect to be dealing with hard wind slabs today. Lower angle sheltered terrain is the best option for safe riding.

Cornices are becoming more widespread along ridgelines and will continue to grow with today’s strong southerly winds. Cornices often break back further than expected, on to what looks like flat terrain. Give them a wide berth and avoid travel below them.

Hard slab diagram – read more about them here.

Avalanches triggered Wednesday on buried layers of faceted snow on steep slopes show dangerous conditions exist in the Ogden area mountains. Many slopes have poor structure – soft sugary, weak layers, both mid-pack and near the ground. It seems some of the steep slopes are just waiting for a trigger – and which slopes will slide are unpredictable - though slopes facing northerly through easterly are the most likely places to trigger a slide and should be avoided, especially in continuously steep terrain or slopes with terrain such as gullies, trees or cliff bands. This type of avalanche has the potential to run far down into low elevation terrain as evidenced by Wednesday's Hells Canyon slides. Avoid travel under steep northwest through east facing slopes.

As with wind slabs, cracking and collapsing are bulls-eye clues to instability, but for persisent slabs these clues may not be present, and snow pit tests could be unreliable.