Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Paige Pagnucco for Friday - April 7, 2017 - 5:34am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is LOW. Loose wet and isolated wind slab avalanches are possible in steep terrain. Continue to avoid being on or beneath cornices.




special announcement

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current conditions

The winds have been howling all night and are currently blowing 30-40 mph out of the south southwest with gusts reaching over 70mph on the ridgetops. It is 47 F at the 8000' Ben Lomond weather station. With warm overnight temperatures the snow surface we've been enjoying fine spring conditions on did not refreeze. You'll likely find less than desirable riding conditions today with very warm mountain temps and wind speeds expected to increase as a cold winter-like storm approaches for the weekend. Your biggest concern will be standing upright if you travel in exposed terrain, especially on ridgetops.

Here's a recent observation from Taylor Canyon.

Low elevation snow is about gone. (pc: Diehard Ogden skiers)
recent activity

No avalanche activity reported from yesterday.
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

Unlike during the past week's melt-freeze cycle, the snow surface is not frozen this morning. With very warm temperatures forecast for today you'll want to avoid steep slopes with saturated, unsupportable snow. If you see rollerballs or pinwheels, it's time to move to lower angle terrain. I imagine that turning conditions today will be challenging, if not less than stellar.

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

There are still huge cornices waiting to fail with the additional weight of a person and/or snowmobile. Stay well back from their edges and avoid travel below them.
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

With howling winds forecast today, we might see shallow wind slabs form on upper elevation leeward slopes. Though there is very limited snow available for transport, whatever can be moved will be. Avoid fresh wind drifts on steep slopes as even a short ride in a small avalanche would be a bad way to end the season.

weather

It's a transition day as a cold, snow producing storm is headed our way. It will be very windy today with southwesterly winds blowing 30-40 mph and gusts closer to 50-60 mph. Mountain temperatures will be in the mid to high 40's F. Under cloudy skies we'll see a chance for rain and snow showers before noon, then a chance of rain showers. Some thunder is also possible. Rain should change to snow overnight as temperatures fall. Saturday looks to be a throwback to winter with cooler temps and snow. If the storm doesn't fall apart or dive to the south, the Ogden area mountains could see up to a foot of snow by Sunday. Enjoy winter's last (?) breath as high pressure rolls back in next week.

general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out 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 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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DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

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

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

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

To those skinning uphill at resorts: it is critical to know the resort policy on uphill travel. You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here.

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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 occur