Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Saturday - January 21, 2017 - 7:21am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is MODERATE and heightened avalanche conditions exist on steep wind-drifted upper and mid elevation slopes. Loose, long-running sluffs entraining light new snow are likely in steep terrain. Snow and strengthening west-northwest winds will cause the avalanche danger to rise and become more widespread today. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully and avoid steep drifted slopes.




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current conditions

Temperatures in the Ogden mountains this morning are around 20 F. Southeast winds diminished late last night and are currently around 10 mph out of the southwest. The storm from yesterday didn't amount to a whole lot: Powder Mountain reports 2", and Monte Cristo 3". Unfortunately, a few inches of light new snow buried weak surface snow consiting of feathery surface hoar and sugary facets that developed during the recent high pressure. This new weak layer has potential to be a lingering problem. Good riding conditions on a few inches of new snow and re-crystallized powder can be found on wind-sheltered slopes, but variable crusts exist in sunny terrain.

Crystal card inserted in buried surface hoar layer on Cutler Ridge.

recent activity

Very sensitive wind slabs quickly formed and were easy to trigger in the Cutler Ridge area on Wednesday.

Photo by Brian Smith of fresh winds slabs.
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

East winds yesterday evening created a heightened danger of wind slab avalanches in exposed upper and mid elevation terrain. Increasing and gusty northwest wind today will cause the danger to rise and become more widespread.

  • Drifts are forming on weak surface snow consisting of surface hoar and/or small-grained sugary faceted snow, and fresh wind slabs will be sensitive to human triggering.
  • A few inches of fresh powder could be hiding drifts that formed late yesterday.
  • Wind slabs made up of stiffer drifted snow are often rounded and chalky and may produce hollow, drum-like sounds.
  • Avoid drifted snow on the lee side of ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, sub-ridges, and cliff-bands.
  • Cornices could break further back than expected and may trigger wind slab avalanches on drifted slopes below.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

A layer of weak facets exists above and below a thick rain crust from mid-December. This layer exists below 7500 feet and produced massive avalanches last week when it was stressed by heavy snowfall. Triggering an avalanche on this layer should be very hard to do today, but it's worth digging into the snow 3-4 feet to look for and assess this layer. A few inches of snow won't likely have an impact but another large storm could re-awaken this persistent problem.

Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description
  • Sensitive soft slabs involving the new snow and failing on buried surface hoar are possible in sheltered terrain, especially as more snow accumulates today. Avalanches will become more likely during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Loose sluffs entraining light new snow were common in steep terrain in the mountains above Salt Lake City yesterday, and natural sluffing is ongoing this morning. Get out of the way of your companions in steep terrain, and watch for natural sluffing during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Practice safe travel protocols and identify consequences, like trees, gullies or cliffs before entering steep terrain, as even a small avalanche can be enough to catch and carry you further than expected.
weather

The active weather pattern will continue across the region, with a series of weather systems crossing the area through the first half of next week. Expect 2 to 4 inches of snow today, and a high temperature at 8500' of 27 degrees F. South winds will veer from the west-northwest this morning. 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected tonight, with winds veering from the southwest and a low temperature around 12 F. 3 to 5 inches of snow is likely tomorrow, with a high temperature around 22 F and 15 to 20 mph south winds. The storm will intensify Sunday night and last through Monday, with strengthening south and west winds and 9 to 17 inches of snow possible by Monday evening.
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.