Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Brett Kobernik for Wednesday - February 10, 2016 - 7:10am
bottom line

The avalanche danger starts out mostly LOW this morning but will rise to MODERATE as the daytime heating starts. Carefully monitor the sunny slopes you are on and what is above you watching for the snow to become damp and sloppy.




special announcement

Wednesday February 10th - Avalanche Clinic for Ice Climbers at 6 p.m. at Sandy Momentum climbing gym. For more info click HERE.

Thursday, February 10th, the Utah Adventure Journal speaker series features Todd Offenbacher More info HERE.
current conditions

Temperatures are mild in the high country this morning with readings at 9500 feet in the mid to upper 30s. This is the first night we've seen overnight temperatures above freezing. Wind speeds are light from the west or southwest. Riding conditions have deteriorated on many aspects due to sun and wind but folks are still finding enjoyable snow.
recent activity

It appears that wet activity on Tuesday was not as active as the previous days.
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

Wet activity can be hard to forecast. The key is to just pay attention during the day and be ready to move off of slopes as they become too wet. Here are some other things to consider today. Despite warm overnight temperatures, radiational cooling should have frozen the snow surface up again. Although, warm temperatures overnight may lead to the wet activity getting an earlier start today. However, we may see some thin clouds that would counteract the heating some and lessen the wet activity. Also, usually the wet activity is most active during the first few days of the heating event. But, as temperatures remain warm overnight for a number of days, we can see percolation of the melt water loosen up deeper weak layers. So, there is a big push-pull affect that you should keep in mind but most importantly, choose terrain where you can exit easily if things become more unstable more quickly than you anticipated.

Here's a great video from Bruce who was looking at southerly facing terrain on Tuesday: Bruce checking southerly slopes for wet activity
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description
  • A few hard wind slabs could still be triggered in upper elevation terrain and along ridge lines.
  • In isolated places, you might still be able to trigger a slide on the buried surface hoar layer in the Ogden area mountains, probably on mid to upper elevation, north to northeasterly facing slopes.
  • The icy, hard crusts create a Slide-for-Life potential early in the morning when they are still frozen.
  • Only in isolated places could you still trigger a slide breaking on facets near the ground in the Ogden area mountains. I would still be suspect of any slope that slid during the December avalanche cycle - steep, northwest and northeasterly facing, upper elevation slopes. Very low probability, but with large consequences.
  • There have been reports of weak structure in the Ogden area snowpack on mid elevation, northwesterly facing slopes.
weather

Someone definitely flipped the switch on what seemed like an unending series of storms. We are seeing the exact opposite now with a significant ridge of high pressure that will stay with us at least through the weekend. Temperatures will again be warm today with 9500 foot highs in the low 40s. West southwest wind should be light to moderate in speed. We'll probably see some high clouds that may not be much more than fairly thin. Thursday looks similar with perhaps a few more clouds and slightly warmer temperatures.
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, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

To get help in an emergency (to launch a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911.  Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033), Canyons Resort/PCMR Dispatch (435)615-1911

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

Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)

EMAIL ADVISORY  If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.​ 

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

Twitter Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures:  LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

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

Powderbird Helicopter Skiing - Blog/itinerary for the day  

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

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

To those skinning uphill at resorts:  it is your responsibility to know the resort policy on uphill travel.  You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here. IMPORTANT: Before skinning or hiking 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.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI:  Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC.  Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell.  You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

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.