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Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Trent Meisenheimer
Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Monday morning, February 4, 2019
The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on mid elevation west through southeast facing slopes and all upper elevation slopes. Warm temperatures, strong winds and heavy wet snow have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision making are essential for travel in the backcountry. Avoid steep slopes and avalanche run-out zones such as gullies and couloirs.
The avalanche danger could spike to HIGH during periods of heavy snowfall or increased winds.
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Special Announcements
Check out a new blog post - The Risks and Rewards of Ski Patrol - A Conversation with Jake Hutchinson.
Weather and Snow
The southerly winds continue to be the headline news in the mountains overnight and through out the day today. Upper elevation averages are in the 15-25 mph range gusting into the 40's and 50's. Ogden peak is currently blowing 58 mph gusting into the 70's. It's going to be hard to escape the winds with even the mid elevation anemometers reading speeds in the 10-20 mph range with gusts into the upper 30's.
Yup - it's avalanche weather. The rain snow line will ebb and flow around the 6,500' level today. Temperatures remain on the warm side with upper elevations in the mid 20's °F. Rough snow totals are as follows:
Snowbasin: 9-12" snow (1.15-1.50" h20)
Powder Mountain: 13" snow (1.60" h20)
The riding and turning conditions are excellent if you're in wind sheltered terrain and above about 6,500' where you'll ditch the rain drenched snow and be rewarded with dense, surfy, snow. We will remain in an active storm pattern under a southwest flow for much of the day today. Another 3-6" of new snow is possible with more in favored locations. Tuesday morning/afternoon a trough will slice overhead bringing colder temps and more snow.
Recent Avalanches
There were no observations from the Ogden area yesterday. Snow safety teams were able to get a few new snow avalanches in the steep wind loaded terrain.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Southerly winds continue to blow with consistent speeds in the 15-25 mph range. This has drifted the new snow onto many leeward (downwind terrain) aspects and elevations just off the ridge lines. As the winds swirl in the mountain drainages and valleys it's also drifting snow and cross loading sub-ridges and mid slope break overs (see pic). Wind loading is a common denominator in most avalanche accidents.
It will be possible to trigger these new drifts from a distance or from below slopes. Human triggered avalanches are likely. For today, avoid steep (greater than 30°) terrain. Especially in terrain that has pillowy, rounded, or hollow sounding snow at all the mid and upper elevations.
Photo: Example of cross loading / wind drifting snow on a mid slope ridge at 8,500' in elevation in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
With the rain/snow line around 6,500’ for much of the night, the wet soggy snow will need time to cool. It will be possible to trigger wet, loose sluffs today on all low elevation slopes. Avoid travel in steep gullies and couloirs, including ice climbs. Even a small wet sluff in a steep terrain trap such as a creek bed or road cut can pile up cement like debris burying you deep.
General Announcements
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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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