Avalanche Advisory
| Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains | Issued by Evelyn Lees for November 30, 2012 - 6:57am |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
Below 7,000 ft.
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bottom line The Avalanche Danger is LOW today, with minor concerns of triggering loose snow sluffs or a few wind drifts, on shady, upper elevation slopes.
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current conditions It’s another ridiculously warm morning – temperatures are generally in the low 30s to mid 40s. Moderate southwesterly winds are blowing in the 20 to 25 mph range, with gusts in the 40s and 50s across the high peaks. The snowpack is a mix of loose snow and various crusts, and much less supportable than last weekend where there are no crusts. Snowmobilers may want to focus on packed roads and slopes, or those known to be grassy and rock free. Icy patches, breakable wind and sun crusts, dirt and rocks make it challenging to get to the few sweet spots of loose faceted snow. |
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recent activity It is getting easier to trigger sluffs in the weak surface snow – the largest yesterday in Snake Creek ran about 200 vertical feet, was 15 feet wide and 6” deep, and just big enough to boss you around a bit if you were on skis, a board or snowshoes. These would be limited to the highest terrain in the Ogden area mountains. |
Avalanche Problem 1over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
Below 7,000 ft.
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description
Today, expect a few small new drifts of wind-blown snow along the higher ridges that will be sensitive and easy to trigger on steep slopes. It will also be possible to trigger facet stuff large enough to push you around in the weak, sugary snow on the upper elevation northerly facing slopes. |
Avalanche Problem 2over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
Below 7,000 ft.
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description
There is NO Danger today, BUT if you are heading out early tomorrow, you will need to know how much it snowed. Check our early morning hot line – 1-888-999-4019, option 8, which we try to have updated by around 5 am each morning, with our first information. Any new snow we get overnight will not bond well to the old snow surfaces, and, combined with the winds, there could be some shallow, but very sensitive new snow soft slabs out there tomorrow. |
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weather A quick moving disturbance will bring a small shot of snow to the mountains tonight. Ahead of this, temperatures today will warm into the mid 30’s to low 40’s once again, and the southerly winds will average 20 to 25 mph, with gusts across the highest peaks in the 50s at time. Clouds will increase throughout the day, with light rain and snow showers starting as early as late afternoon. Tonight, we’re hoping for 3 to 6” of snow, with the heavier amounts to the north of I-80 and in areas favored by southwest flow. The rain/snow line may start as high as 9,000’, but should drop to around 6,500’ in the Ogden area mountains. A second, colder front will cross the area Sunday night into Monday, with additional snow possible. |
| general annoucements 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. |