Ogden Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Brett Kobernik

AVALANCHE WARNING »

Dangerous avalanche conditions are occuring or are imminent. Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Notice:

A NATURAL AVALANCHE CYCLE IS IN PROGRESS. LARGE AMOUNTS OF NEW SNOW WITH WIND HAS CREATED A HIGH AVALANCHE DANGER. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID ANY STEEP MOUNTAINOUS SLOPES TODAY AND INTO MONDAY. WITH THE WEATHER CLEARING SOMEWHAT ON MONDAY AND LINGERING UNSTABLE SNOW, THE BUSY HOLIDAY IS RIPE FOR AN AVALANCHE ACCIDENT.

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 is at Level 4 (HIGH) especially in areas that have received more than 6 inches of snow which are in wind effected terrain. This is most pronounced on the mid and upper elevation slopes of 30 degrees or steeper on the north half of the compass. People without excellent snow assessment skills should avoid all steep slopes today.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

New snow amounts have exceeded expectations in many areas and the avalanche danger is on the rise. We are nearing 2 inches of water weight in 1 to 2 feet of snow in many locations. Temperatures are in the teens and southwesterly winds have increased overnight into the moderate category at least along the ridges.

RECENT ACTIVITY

No avalanche activity was reported from the Ogden area mountains but theres was some in the Salt Lake region. Avalanche sensors in Little Cottonwood Canyon picked up natural avalanche activity overnight. Snowcat drivers at Ogden area ski resorts reported sensitive conditions overnight.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

With the additional weight of the new snow, by far the biggest danger is an avalanche that breaks into weaker snow that formed in January or February. The weakness includes the January rain crust and associated weak layers as well as some areas that have weak snow above it. The doors aren’t coming off the hinges in that not all slopes will avalanche. This makes this problem even more dangerous in that you may trigger an avalanche with no prior warning. I would let things settle for a few days before getting on the big slopes. You can find areas with a LOW avalanche danger by choosing terrain that’s received less new snow and is out of the wind with lower slope angles.

THREAT #2
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

A second concern will be any areas where the new snow has been drifted into deeper drifts. With the larger amount of new snow these drifts are not in the manageable category as often times they are. I would tend to shy away from any wind loaded slopes today which will be most pronounced on the north half of the compass. Slope cuts shouldn’t be attempted in areas that have received significant new snow. New snow avalanches also have the potential to be large and dangerous today.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

We should see snow continue today with accumulations up to another foot in some locations. Winds will shift more westerly and a bit northwest and will continue with moderate speeds slowing later today. Ridgetop temperatures will be in the teens to low 20s. Snow will turn more showery late this afternoon with it letting up for Monday. Again, with lots of people planning on getting out in the backcountry on the Holiday, Monday is primed for an avalanche accident.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Skis found - Mt Aire trailhead (Lambs Canyon exit). Call to ID 801-524-5304.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams 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.

Salt Lake – Alta Central (801-742-2033)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

Discount Lift tickets: Ski Utah, Backcountry.com, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin, Beaver Mountain, Brighton, Sundance, and Solitude have donated a limited number of tickets for sale.

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.

Subscribe to the daily avalanche advisory e-mail click HERE.

UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

You have the opportunity to participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, or email by clicking HERE

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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.