Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Mount Naomi Wilderness

Observation Date
4/18/2025
Observer Name
Richie Schumacher
Region
Logan » Mount Naomi Wilderness
Location Name or Route
Mt Naomi Wilderness
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
East
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
TH temps at 0830 were 29* with moderate gusting strong east winds along with significant snow being transported and loading lee slopes and ridges. Warmed significantly throughout the day, but stayed cold at upper elevations with consistent moderate gusting strong winds and AST. Snowfall was pulsing calm to light with periods of heavy blowing snow.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
5"
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Surface snow was generally 1-2" new low density, but already damp snow at the TH and up to around 6000' and increasing to 4-6" of new and quickly settling and wind blown snow at mid and upper elevations with mid elevations seeming to have the most new snow (likely due to storm snow + deposited wind blown snow). I was able to get skis on snow at around 6700' in a relatively sun-protected drainage. The upper elevations were much more variable with less overall new snow and more areas of stripped old MF crust snow and isolated pockets of deposition up to a foot deep. These isolated deposition areas were about 8-10" of storm snow with 2-4" of soft but increasingly cohesive wind slab atop. Overall. mid elevations seemed to do the best, although the old snow underneath is suspect especially at the lower ranges of the mid elevation band.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Heavy snowfall generally of 4-6" falling on top of a stout MF crust of old snow and wet grains below created some small dry loose activity at the surface as wind deposition started to increase and blow off tree bombs. Throughout the day the wind was moderate gusting strong and actively moving snow and loading lee slopes making them deeper and harder throughout the day. Cracking was noted at skis and shooting out about 10' or so in front of skis in this wind slab setup of 2-4" of soft 4F wind slab sitting on top of 4-6" or more of new F hard snow. When this layer breaks it would sometimes slide on the new snow and sometimes be cohesive enough to take 2-4" of the new snow with it and seemed to be becoming a more totally cohesive slab with the new and wind snow throughout the day running easily, but with low energy on the slick MF crust below. Warming and periods of sun throughout the day on the new snow was settling it out and increasing water content with lower elevation snow being melted out and muddy by end of tour.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
The new snow seemed to be bonding well to the old MF crust snow it fell on, but when paired with the soft but increasingly hardening wind slabs generated by strong easterly winds it was touchy and propagating about 10' and increasing throughout the day. This problem seemed to be more prevalent in the upper reaches of the mid elevation zone, but also seen at upper elevations with much more variability. I expect this problem to lessen as the weekend progresses, but would expect some consequential pockets of sensitive soft wind slab to be lurking in the right lee terrain especially into tomorrow. I expect this problem is likely at the D1/1.5 size in the right terrain with decreasing sensitity as the weekend progresses.
Low elevations, although thin, seemed to have good overall stability where the new snow fell on old snow.
Mid elevations seemed to get the most new and wind blown snow and had the most signs of instability.
Upper elevations were variable with more, but smaller pockets of wind blown snow, old cornices being blown over the ridge lines and new cornices forming on westerly facing ridge lines.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
With warmth and sun this weekend, the new snow will likely show signs of wet loose and possibly wet slab activity running on the slick MF bed surface below. I was already seeing it by end of tour today and expect more into the weekend. I would expect these to run rather fast as the bed surface below is hard and slick. I would also expect some newly formed small cornice to be present in unexpected places on west and southwest slopes that will catch sun this weekend. I expect this problem to be likely at the D1 level and possible at the D1.5 level as things warm but could be larger in the right terrain.
Comments
photo 1: general mid nd upper elevation coverage
photo 2: test slope reactivity with wind slab
photo 3: small dry loose natural
photo 4: cracking in wind slab
Video
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate