Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Mark Staples for Tuesday - February 13, 2018 - 6:31am
bottom line

The danger today is LOW and avalanche conditions are generally safe.
special announcement

At 6PM on February 17 at Alpine Distilling in Park City, join a presentation on the UAC's Avalanche Awareness Know Before You Go Program then learn about how we perceive aroma and taste through whiskey while seeing how Alpine Distilling crafts local, award winning spirits. The evening will feature a specialty cocktail made with Alpine Distilling's Persistent (Weak Layer) Vodka and include a raffle for a backcountry kit (beacon, shovel, and probe) donated by Backcountry.com. Contact [email protected] for details and reservations.

current conditions

It's relatively calm and cold this morning with consistent temperature and wind speeds across all elevations. Temperatures are hovering around 20 degrees F at most places. Light winds in valleys and at ridgetops are averaging 5 mph gusting to 10 mph from the E and SE. This morning should be a beautiful one to be in the mountains with such light winds and cold temperatures.

Cloudy skies and snowfall produced 2 inches at best in the Ogden area mountains mainly near Snowbasin. Most places only got a trace which has hardly improved riding conditions. Many slopes have been affected by both sun and wind. Finding soft, dry powder on sheltered slopes is getting harder.
recent activity

There have been no reported avalanches in 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

The trace to 2 inches of snow yesterday have not changed the avalanche danger. Take normal precautions today and watch for isolated wind slabs formed by Sunday's strong south winds. Also, consider choosing slopes with a clean runout free of trees and rocks because a small chance remains of triggering a persistent slab avalanche.

Consider practicing your avalanche rescue skills at Snowbasin's Beacon Park located on the skier’s left side at the bottom of Herbert’s run facing WNW near the bottom of the Middle Bowl Triple Lift. It is accessible by both lift accessed skiing and is conveniently located adjacent to the approved uphill travel route approximately half way up the route to ensure non-lift ticket holders can still take advantage of this great tool! Check here for uphill travel policies.
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

Buried faceted layers in the Ogden area snowpack are mostly dormant, and it will take a decent load of new snow (maybe a foot or so) to awaken this avalanche problem on many slopes. Unfortunately with faceted snow pesisting in the snowpack, mainly on NW, N, and NE facing slopes above 8500 feet, a small chance remains of triggering one of these avalanches.

See a short discussion in this video.
weather

Today will be a beautiful sunny day in the mountains. Air temperatures will climb to near freezing at trailheads and into the mid 20's F at ridgetops. With strong sunshine and light winds, it should feel a lot warmer. Winds will blow 5-10 mph eventually shifting to the SW by the end of the day. Cold air will descend over Utah tomorrow, with some precipitation arriving tomorrow night and continuing into early Thursday morning. Only a few inches of snow is expected.
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.