Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Mark Staples for Thursday - February 11, 2016 - 6:16am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is mostly LOW this morning. A MODERATE danger remains at high elevations with a few weak layers in the snowpack that could produce an avalanche. Additionally, the danger will rise to MODERATE on south aspects due to a loose wet snow avalanche problem as things warm up.
special announcement

TODAY, February 11th, the Utah Adventure Journal speaker series features Todd Offenbacher More info HERE.
current conditions

This morning temperatures are generally 5 degrees cooler than yesterday morning which is a good thing.

  • Below 7000 feet temperatures are in the 20's F
  • In between these elevations, temperatures are in the low to mid 30's F
  • Above 9000 feet temperatures are at or below freezing

Winds are blowing 10 mph gusting to 20 mph mostly from the west.

Some slopes have a rain crust. Snow on many shaded aspects has remained dry. Unfortunately it has also become loose and faceted with some surface hoar (aka - frozen dew) at lower elevations. Why has shaded snow stayed cold and become weak and faceted? See the below graph showing air temperature and snow surface temperature from Bunnell's Ridge. Notice that snow surface temperature has remained below freezing. Also notice that the snow surface has experienced wide fluxuations in temperature. Unfortunately snow temperature about a foot deep hardly varies, thus we get a big temperature difference over a short distance otherwise know as a big temperature gradient which creates faceted snow.

Photo of surface hoar which is frozen dew (B. Smith) near Dry Canyon.
recent activity

There was minimal wet loose avalanche activity yesterday, and most occurred earlier this week. Additionally there were some wind slabs that released early this week but none yesterday.
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

North aspects and shaded slopes still have dry snow (see snow surface temperature in the above graph from a shaded slope). South aspects mostly got a good refreeze last night. Watch for signs of instablity like small point releases near rocks or pinwheels and rollerballs of snow tumbling downhill to let you know that the wet snow avalanche danger is rising.

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

I'm using the "Normal Caution" icon today as place holder to mention a few problems in the Ogden area mountains. There are a few lingering wind slabs, a few places with buried surface hoar or some facets near an ice crust (a foot or two deep), and isolated locations that previously avalanched in December. All these issues are generally low probability problems but worth looking for before betting your life.
weather

Today will be similar to yesterday with sunny skies and warm temperatures. High temperatures should reach the mid 40s F again. Westerly winds will blow 10-20 mph. A few weak disturbances may move over the area this weekend and bring a chance for a few inches of snow.
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.