Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Evelyn Lees for Monday - January 15, 2018 - 7:14am
bottom line

The Avalanche Danger remains CONSIDERABLE on steep, upper elevation slopes facing northerly through easterly. Avalanches 2 to 3 feet deep can still be triggered by a person, on slope, from a distance or from below. Avoid travel on and below these slopes.

Wet loose sluffs are possible today on all steep, sunny slopes and perhaps on shady mid and upper elevation slopes during periods of high, thin clouds.

If you're headed into the backcountry - or exiting though the gates at the ski area - you must have the proper gear, training, and skilled partners.
special announcement

To get help in an emergency (to request a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911. Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates.

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.
current conditions

It's another beautiful calm, clear morning in the mountains – temperatures are in the twenties and low 30s. The northerly winds are very light, less than 10 mph, with the highest peaks only averaging 15 mph, and gusting to 20 - almost unheard of for the Ogden ridge line. If you are searching for powder, head to wind sheltered, low angle shady slopes above about 8,000'. Unfortunately, the low to mid elevations are still plauged by low snow, making access and exits tedious. All the sunny slopes will be crusted this morning, damp and sloppy later in the day. Spoiler alert: warm temperatures combined with possible high, thin clouds may cause “greenhousing”, heating the snow on the northerly facing slopes today.
recent activity

There were no reports of avalanches from the backcountry yesterday or at the Ogden resorts, though no explosive work was done. Slides continue to be triggered by people and explosives in the Salt Lake and Park City area mountains, and collapses are being reported from mid and upper elevations. Improved visibility allowed observers to note the signicant avalanche cycle along the Ben Lomond to Willard Peak headwall from earlier in the week. Hardesty/Brandt photos. Observations here and here.

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

“Poor structure” and a “persistent weak layer” are the buzzwords of the Wasatch snowpack. Translated – “strong snow sitting on weak snow” and “facets”. Collapsing and avalanches are indications a person can still trigger an avalanche.

The poor snowpack structure exists above about 8300' in the Ogden area mountains and is most pronounced on the northerly through easterly aspects. Cracking, collapsing, snow tests and recent explosive control work offer testimony to areas of unstable snow. Careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route-finding is required.

weather

The high pressure ridge will weaken just a bit today, allowing for periods of high thin clouds. Temperatures will warm into the upper 30s to mid 40s. The northeasterly winds will be in the 5 to 15 mph range, with speeds across even the highest ridgelines only in the 20 to 25 mph range. A few snow flurries are possible Tuesday night into Wednesday, with a colder, stronger storm forecast for Friday into Saturday.
general announcements

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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.