UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Greg Gagne
Issued by Greg Gagne for
Friday, April 5, 2019
The avalanche hazard is MODERATE where both wet loose and wet slab avalanches are possible, especially as the day warms. Avalanche activity may be both natural and human-triggered, and occur on all aspects at all elevations. Although wet avalanches may be shallow, they may run long distances and produce deep debris piles.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
When the forecasting ends, the UAC’s work keeps going strong. Summer is a busy time for the UAC when we are working on our fall and winter planning; putting together the Fall Fundraiser and the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW); updating our awareness and education programs. In addition, this summer we will be finishing up the website redesign project. Your donation shows you’re invested in this community all year round! You can still be part of the UAC’s success in 2019.
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Weather and Snow
Currently: It's a warm one in the Ogden mountain this morning, preventing a good refreeze at the low and mid elevations. Skies are partly cloudy and mountain temperatures range through the 30's and low 40's F. Only the a few stations above 9500' are below freezing, albeit a still balmy 30 F. South/southwest winds increased overnight, with upper elevation stations above 9,000’ averaging in the teens and gusting into the 20’s mph. As is often the case, Mount Ogden is the windiest, with gusts in the 40's mph.
Today: Skies will be partly cloudy and it will continue to be warm. Temperatures will rise through 40’s F. and even the upper elevations will rise well above freezing. Winds will be out of the south/southwest, averaging in the teens with gusts in the 20’s at the mid elevations, with gusts in the 30’s and 40's at the upper elevations.
Tonight: A more promising setup beginning overnight with 2-4” (potentially more!) of snowfall by later Saturday morning.
Recent Avalanches
Reports from Ogden-area resorts indicated wet loose avalanche activity on solar aspects as the day warmed.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The primary avalanche hazard today is wet avalanche activity related to warming. The snowpack has now had over a day to adjust to warming, and clouds and winds may further limit wet activity today. But if the snow surface warms up where you are, natural and human-triggered avalanches are possible involving wet loose snow sluffs or larger wet slab avalanches. This hazard exists in steeper terrain, especially on aspects facing west, south, and east, as well as on all aspects at the mid and lower elevations. Even upper elevation northerly terrain may become active today. These slides will run on older buried crusts, or possibly gouge down more deeply into the snowpack, potentially entraining large amounts of dense, heavy, wet snow.
Fortunately the snowpack gives us plenty of clues when the avalanche problem involves wet snow. Evidence includes wet rollerballs (as shown below) or larger wet loose avalanches. As soon as the crusts soften and becomes soggy and unsupportable, it’s a sign of unstable wet snow, and time to move off of and out from underneath steeper slopes. Avoid terrain traps such as the gully bottoms.
Avalanche Problem #2
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Risk is inherent when traveling in the mountains. In addition to wet snow concerns, there are a few others you should watch for, especially if you opt to head for shadier, upper elevation aspects:
Wind Blown snow - Although there isn't much dry snow available for transport, winds did increase overnight and you may find a pocket of fresh wind-drifted snow on upper elevation northerly slopes.
Cornices will be more sensitive today with heating. Minimize your travel time below overhanging cornices and stay well back from the edges of the cornices when traveling on ridge lines.
Persistent Weak Layer - A two-week old buried weak layer of facets and surface may still exist on protected mid and upper elevation northerly to easterly facing slopes. We could see increased sensitivity today due to recent snow and wind. Use extra caution in this terrain, and take the time to dig down 2-3 feet, looking for a thin gray line or test results of full propagation with an extended column test.
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.