Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Trent Meisenheimer for Tuesday - March 27, 2018 - 6:23am
bottom line

The avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE for wet loose avalanches at the mid and upper elevation steep east through west facing terrain. You'll find an isolated MODERATE danger for deep slabs at upper elevation northwest through east facing terrain. LOW danger elsewhere.

Loose dry avalanches, and shallow wind slabs can be triggered today, especially at the upper elevation northerly facing terrain. Even a small slide is serious if a ride would carry you off a cliff, into trees or down a long, icy slope.
special announcement

Support the Snowbasin Avalanche Rescue Dog program at Alleged on Wednesday, March 28 at 6pm. Details here.

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current conditions

The last few snowflakes fell overnight before clearing out this morning, leaving behind a fairly uniform 5-9" in the Ogden mountains. Clear, cold and crisp this morning, with current mountain temperatures in the low teens F°. Winds are from the north and light – averaging less than 5-10 mph gusting into the teens at upper elevations.

There is a supportable crust beneath the new snow on most all aspects and elevations. Upper elevation northerly facing slopes are holding the best of the shallow, cold dry snow. The icy crusts may not soften for the next few days, so be prepared for hard, “slide for life” conditions on many aspects in steep terrain.
recent activity

No backcountry avalanche activity reported from the Ogden area mountains yesterday. Snow safety teams reported long running, low density sluffs and shallow soft slabs all failing within the new snow.

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

The light, cold, dry snow will see the strong March sun for the first time today ~ with 5-9" of new snow sitting on a very slick and uniform hard layer, the loose wet snow will likely run fast and far - piling up deeply in tight chutes and gulleys. If you are going to be in steep southerly facing terrain, be mindful of whats above and below you. If the snow becomes damp or you start seeing rollerballs shedding off of cliffs or rocks bands, it's time to get out of there.
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

Long running sluffs on sustained slopes steeper than 35°, and shallow wind slabs can be triggered today, especially at the upper elevation northerly facing terrain. While these slides would be shallow, the terrain you are in will make a difference – even a small slide is serious if a ride would carry you off a cliff, into trees or down a long, icy slope.
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

Weak, faceted snow still exists near the ground on mid and high elevation slopes. Avalanches can still break 1-3 feet deep especially on slopes above 8000 feet in steep rocky areas. The natural slide spotted on Willard Peak last Friday is a good example. That slide broke deep in the snowpack and ran a very long distance.
weather

Glorious mountain weather is on tap for today - clear, calm and sunny. Mountain temperatures will top out in the mid 30's at 9,000'. Winds will remain from the north and should be well behaved with speeds in the 5-15 mph range at upper elevations. Check out our Ogden weather page here.
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.