Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Brett Kobernik for Friday - March 14, 2014 - 7:15am
bottom line

There is a mostly LOW avalanche danger today. Watch for fresh wind slabs along the high lee sides of ridges. Keep an eye on the sunny slopes as they heat up and move off of and out from under them if they get too wet.
current conditions

We had a nice cold clear night overnight with most stations reading in the low 20s. West southwest winds increased in speed slightly late Thursday but have tapered off again. There was some snow transport and the wind did do a little damage.
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

We have fairly safe avalanche conditions right now. You will be hard pressed to find an avalanche in most terrain today. Reviewing some of the recent activity and the related avalanche problem will remind us of areas where we may trigger something today.

Wind Slabs: This is a very manageable avalanche problem for those with avalanche training and experience. However, keep in mind that in radical terrain, even a small avalanche may not be manageable as documented in a new avalanche observation from Monte Cristo that some skiers triggered a couple of days ago. DETAILS on a good write up.

Persistent Slabs: Low probability unless you are getting into steep radical terrain. A close call in Mineral Fork from two days ago illustrates perfectly how you might still find some older facets that might collapse and fail. DETAILS

Wet Avalanches: Even though it will be slightly warmer today than yesterday, I suspect any heat related avalanche activity will be minimal. However, as always in the Spring, watch the sunny slopes as they heat up starting from the southeast, followed by south then southwest late in the day. This avalanche problem increases in danger as the day heats up.

Graupel Pooling: This has been noted by observers since the last storm although does not seem to be overly sensitive. It did produce this interesting avalanche in Hogum Fork during the last storm. Photo: Jim Harris
weather

We'll have a mostly sunny day with temperatures slightly warmer than Thursday and light northwest winds. 8000 foot highs should be in the low 40s and mid 30s along the ridges. A "brush by" storm will clip northern Utah tonight and might give us a few inches of snow. Mild weather builds back in mid day Saturday lasting into Monday. Looks like we'll have another "brush by" storm Monday night with a few inches of snow possible.
general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

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 and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort Dispatch (435-615-3322)

Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017), Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

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DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

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UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.uned.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides Blog/Itinerary for the Day.  

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

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To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  Some allow uphill travel and have guidelines, some don't. Contact the Ski Patrol at each resort for details. IMPORTANT: Before skinning at a resort under new snow conditions, check in with Ski Patrol.  Resorts can restrict or cut off access if incompatible with control and grooming operations.

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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 exist.