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Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Evelyn Lees
Issued by Evelyn Lees on
Wednesday morning, February 14, 2018

The avalanche danger is MODERATE for triggering a new wind drift on steep upper elevations slopes, mostly facing north through east. Deeper avalanches stepping into old snow are possible in isolated steep terrain with poor snow structure on steep, wind drifted north and northeast facing slopes at the upper elevations.

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Special Announcements

It could be worth the drive...At 6PM on February 17 at Alpine Distilling in Park City, join a presentation on the UAC's Avalanche Awareness Know Before You Go Program then learn about how we perceive aroma and taste through whiskey while seeing how Alpine Distilling crafts local, award winning spirits. The evening will feature a specialty cocktail made with Alpine Distilling's Persistent (Weak Layer) Vodka and include a raffle for a backcountry kit (beacon, shovel, and probe) donated by Backcountry.com. Contact [email protected] for details and reservations.

Weather and Snow

Sadly, today is not yesterday. Under increasingly cloudy skies, the southwesterly winds picked up and are averaging 15 to 25 mph, with the highest peaks averaging to 35 mph, with gusts in the 30s and 40s. Temperatures are in the teens at the upper elevations, and in the twenties at the mid elevations.

48 hour wind graphs of average wind speeds (no gusts) – Mt Ogden (9,570') on the left, a Powder Mountain station on the right (8,897') on the right


Recent Avalanches

No activity reported from the backcountry yesterday.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Though there is little snow available for transport in the Ogden area mountains, today’s steady winds could result in a few new sensitive, fresh wind drifts. Wind drifts, known as wind slabs, often look smooth and rounded, and when you find one, they can be cracky, denser and deeper than the surrounding snow. Look for drifts along upper elevation ridgelines and cross-loaded along gully walls and sub ridges. Avoid any wind drifts on steep slopes.

Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Buried faceted layers in the Ogden area snowpack are mostly dormant, and it will take a decent load of new snow (maybe a foot or so) to awaken this avalanche problem on many slopes. Unfortunately with faceted snow pesisting in the snowpack, mainly on NW, N, and NE facing slopes above 8500 feet, a small chance remains of triggering one of these avalanches.

There is a lot of variability in the snowpack strength and depth. Slopes with a shallower snowpack, especially those that are rocky, tend to have weaker snow. Spatial variabitlity is what we call the differences from one slope to another and could make for tricky conditions if we get the forecast snow and wind.

See a short discussion in this video.

Additional Information

Northern Utah will be under a moderate to strong southwesterly flow today ahead of a storm. Increasing clouds today, with light snow starting late this afternoon. Winds will remain brisk – 20 to 30 mph averages at the mid and upper elevations, with gusts in the 50s along the highest peaks. Temperatures will warm into the 30s at the mid elevations, and 20s at the higher elevations. Snow tonight, with snow showers continuing into tomorrow afternoon. 4 to 8” of snow is possible by Thursday afternoon.

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.

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