Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Evelyn Lees for Wednesday - March 16, 2016 - 7:36am
bottom line

Most upper and mid elevation terrain has a MODERATE avalanche danger today for triggering wind drifts. These wind drifts will be most common on northeast through southeasterly facing slopes. Use careful evaluation to avoid wind drifted terrain, there is amazing powder on the safer lower angle and wind sheltered slopes. Avoid the small portion of terrain along the highest ridge lines where the winds are stronger and the avalanche danger CONSIDERABLE. Loose snow sluffs can also be triggered on steep slopes of any aspect.




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current conditions

I hope you didn’t use up all your “sick leave” in January… turning and riding conditions are excellent on wind-sheltered mid and upper elevation slopes. Overnight, another 2 inches of low-density fluff fell in tha Ogden area mountains and storm totals are now at:

Ogden – 11 to 18” snow, containing 1.5” to 2” of water

Park City – about 12” snow, 1” water

Upper Cottonwoods – 17 to 29” snow, 1.5” to 2” water

Provo, mid elevations – about 6” snow

Overnight, the winds shifted to a more westerly direction in the Ogden area mountains, and are a little stronger than yesterday at some stations – 15 mph averages, with gusts to 30 in the mid elevation terrain. Across the highest peaks, averages to 35 mph have occured.

recent activity

Yesterday, resort avalanche reduction work varied in the Ogden area mountains - from minimal results to very touch cornices and soft slabs, up to 3 feet deep and well over 100' wide in upper elevation, wind drifted terrain.

Yesterday, in the Cottonwoods, 3 slides were triggered in the backcountry, with 2 people going for short rides. These were new snow soft slabs, on north and northeast facing slopes, 9200' and above. There were 40 to 50’ wide, up to 14” deep. Interestingly, two were well off the ridge lines, lower down on the slope or in the drainage.

Left photo: Hide-a-Way Park, Mifflin Right photo: Main Days slope that slid

Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The greatest concern for today is the slight increase in wind speeds at some stations. Wind drifts could be a bit deeper and more widespread than yesterday along the high ridge lines, especially on slopes facing northeast through southeast. These wind drifts are avoidable – often with a simple drop in elevation, a shift in aspect or by heading to lower angle terrain. Seek out wind-sheltered slopes today, and avoid the higher ridgelines, until the winds die down and the wind slabs stabilize. Cornices are sensitive, and may break on approach or further back than expected.

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

Loose snow sluffs can be triggered in steep terrain (greater than about 35 degrees) on all aspects today – and could run long distances in continuously steep terrain.

If there are significant breaks in the clouds this afternoon, allowing for direct sun, the snow on steep southerly and westerly facing slopes could be come more sensitive.

weather

Skies will be mostly cloudy this morning, and snow flurries could add another inch or two to the storm totals. The northwesterly winds will remain brisk along the ridgelines, with 15 mph hour averages and gusts in the 30s. The very highest peaks could still average 35 mph at times this morning, before gradually decreasing this afternoon. Ridge line temperatures will warm into the upper teens, and 8,000’ temperatures into the upper 20s.
general announcements

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To get help in an emergency (to request 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.

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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.