Observation Date
2/26/2017
Observer Name
kory and Shmucks
Region
Ogden » Ben Lomond » Cutler Ridge
Location Name or Route
Cutler Ridge
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Winds in the 20/30 range on the ridge tops. This is mainly in exposed areas. Off the main Ben Lomond shoulder winds were terrain drivin.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Density
Low
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
No new snow overnight. Wind had moved around a lot of snow though.
Went and skied at Snowbasin later in the day with kids and most sunny aspects had a melt freeze crust forming.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Red Flags Comments
All cracking was on wind slabs.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Very easy to trigger on test slopes up to 20" deep. Still a very soft slab but these were very obvious where they had formed. These were upper mid elevation on E-N aspects. At upper elevation exposed areas (Shoulder) these were very stubborn and impossible to get to move. With new snow over night it may be difficult to recognize these hidden jems tomorrow. They could also be 4-6in deeper just with the new snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
Depending on how heavy the new snow comes in I think we could see a decent Storm snow cycle here in Ogden. In protected areas the snow surface is still just fluff from the snow that fell on Saturday.
Comments
Very easy to trigger wind slabs. Not much else notable today. Did notice a little warming of new snow on solar aspects but did not get hot enough.
Considerable for NE Aspects at upper elevation. The rest seems ok right now unless we get more new snow than expected and at higher densities than expected.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
