Ogden Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

AVALANCHE WATCH »

The risk of an avalanche is expected to increase significantly but the timing and location are still uncertain. Stay tuned for updates.
Notice:

New snow expected later today and into tonight could overload preexisting buried persistently weak snow and make the avalanche danger rise later today and into Friday. If the storm produces the upper end of expected new snow amounts, Friday will be the most likely day for human triggered avalanches.


BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

The avalanche danger starts out at mostly MODERATE but will be on the rise and will most likely reach CONSIDERABLE later in the day or tonight. Slab avalanches breaking into persistent weak snow one to two feet deep in the 8000 to 10,000 foot range on the northerly aspects remains the biggest danger. Additionally, watch for sensitivity in the new snow expected during the day today as well.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

About 3 of inches of snow fell on Wednesday in the Ogden area mountains. The previous snow surface was somewhat smoothed out by recent winds and contained sun crusts on the southerly aspects. Currently temperatures are in the low to mid 20s with moderate speed southerly winds with a few stronger gusts along the mid elevation ridges. There are gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range in the most exposed locations.


RECENT ACTIVITY

No new avalanche activity was reported from the Ogden area mountains. There was one unintentionally human triggered avalanche reported from Wednesday in the Salt Lake region. It was about 2 feet deep, 80 to 100 feet wide running about 400 feet vertical on a northwest facing slope at about 9200 feet in elevation. It was triggered remotely from about 100 feet away and was reported to have failed on surface hoar. No location name was given.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

The main concern today remains triggering an avalanche that breaks into our persistent weak layers about one to two feet down. The surface hoar continues to show it's active with continued avalanche activity. It continues to produce clean shears and full propagation in many snowpit tests, albeit somewhat stubborn. I've found some stubborn but energetic shears with full propagation on the buried near surface facets as well. With most of the new snow expected later today, things most likely won't get too overloaded until tonight. With about an inch of water weight anticipated into Friday, I expect to hear about avalanches breaking into this weakness. We are not done with this one yet.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

A second concern for today will be the new snow. I'd guess that it won't be all that sensitive but, as always, use quick hand pits and small steep test slopes to see how the new snow is behaving. Cracking and easy shears are signs of instability. Also, pay special attention during periods of intense snowfall rates if we should see any. This is when things can quickly get out of hand.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

We'll have increasing clouds and snow showers during the day today. Southerly winds will continue in the moderate speed range with some stronger gusts this morning then decrease mid day. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the low to mid 20s. Most of the new snow will fall this afternoon with the arrival of the cold front. 3 to 6 inches or better is possible by this evening. We'll probably see a break as the center of the low moves overhead then another chance for additional accumulation as the flow goes west northwest. An additional 6 inches is possible especially in the Cottonwoods. The storm will pretty much be done Friday with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

SLC: Please contact Alta Central (801-742-2033) if you trigger a large avalanche in the backcountry, especially if you are adjacent to a ski area, to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

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Wasatch Powderbird Guides flight plan.

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30:888-999-4019 option 8.

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

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UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

We appreciate all your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or fill out the observation form on our home page.

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The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

We will update this forecast tomorrow morning. Thanks for calling.


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.


This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.