Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains | utahavalanchecenter.org

Avalanche Advisory

Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains	Issued by Trent Meisenheimer for Monday - February 12, 2018 - 5:59am

bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW. Low danger does not mean no danger and risk is inherent in mountain travel. Human triggered avalanches 1-2' deep are unlikely but not impossible. The most suspect areas include steep thin and rocky north to northeast facing slopes above about 8500'.

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current conditions

Under mostly cloudy skies this morning it will undoubtedly be a different day from yesterday's glorious sun. Winds this morning are out of the south and buzzing along the ridgelines 15-25 mph gusting into the 30's. Mountain temperatures remain on the cool side with upper elevations in the teens °F. Skiing and riding conditions are variable with both sun and wind damaged terrain.

recent activity

No recent avalanche activity has been reported from the Ogden area mountains.

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 Although unlikely, persistent slab avalanches remain possible in isolated steep terrain. The most experienced people are still avoiding the bulls-eye terrain - steep, north and northeast facing slopes, especially those that are rocky, wind loaded or have a shallow snowpack. These are the slopes where you are most likely to trigger one of these deeper slab avalanches. Widespread buried faceted layers appear dormant now, and persistent slab avalanches are unlikely, but if you trigger one it will be dangerous. If you choose to travel on steep slopes, select slopes with clean run outs, where a mistake in your stability evaluation won’t send you rocketing off a cliff, into trees or into a gully. Pay attention to possible signs of instability like cracking and whumpfing or collapsing, but remember these signs are not likely to be present so you have to dig down and look for the poor snow structure. Even though there has not been a lot of snow available for transport - be on the lookout for wind drifted snow at the upper elevations.

type

aspect/elevation

characteristics

LIKELIHOOD

LIKELY

UNLIKELY

SIZE

LARGE

SMALL

TREND

INCREASING DANGER

SAME

DECREASING DANGER

over the next 12 hours

description

Although unlikely, persistent slab avalanches remain possible in isolated steep terrain. The most experienced people are still avoiding the bulls-eye terrain - steep, north and northeast facing slopes, especially those that are rocky, wind loaded or have a shallow snowpack. These are the slopes where you are most likely to trigger one of these deeper slab avalanches.

Widespread buried faceted layers appear dormant now, and persistent slab avalanches are unlikely, but if you trigger one it will be dangerous.
If you choose to travel on steep slopes, select slopes with clean run outs, where a mistake in your stability evaluation won’t send you rocketing off a cliff, into trees or into a gully.
Pay attention to possible signs of instability like cracking and whumpfing or collapsing, but remember these signs are not likely to be present so you have to dig down and look for the poor snow structure.
Even though there has not been a lot of snow available for transport - be on the lookout for wind drifted snow at the upper elevations.

weather

Mostly cloudy with occasional snow showers throughout the day today. Winds will remain out of the southwest blowing 15-20 mph along the upper elevation ridgelines before tapering off later in the afternoon and evening hours. 1-3" of snow possible today before clearing out on Tuesday. Mountain temperatures will reach into the mid 20's °F at 9,000' feet.

The good news - we have a decent storm shaping up for Wednesday into Thursday that will be another refresher to the mountains. While it won't be a blockbuster, it should deliver 3-6" of new snow, hopefully. Another storm is shaping up for Sunday.

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.

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