Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Ogden Area Mountains Issued by Trent Meisenheimer for Sunday - April 2, 2017 - 6:41am
bottom line

Today we have a LOW avalanche danger on all aspects and elevations.

  • Travel Advice - Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
  • Likelihood of Avalanches - Natural and human triggered avalanches unlikely.
  • Avalanche Size and Distribution - Small avalanches in isolated areas or in extreme terrain.



special announcement

Thanks for everyone that donated to organizations that make living in Utah a better place during yesterday's Love Utah Give Utah. We here at the Utah Avalanche Center gratefully appreciate the support we receive from this amazing community.
current conditions

Mostly clear skies will make way to increasing clouds by early morning as a cold front from the north pushes towards us. Current temperatures are above freezing at almost all weather stations below 8500' feet. Upper elevation temperatures 8500' feet and above are below freezing. Winds are generally out of the west and north blowing 10-15 mph with gusts into the 20's at upper elevations. The snow surface this morning will be supportable and travel should be easy.

If you're thinking of corn snow get it early and good luck. I am unsure if the snow surface will soften much this morning. If it does soften - it wont stay soft for long with the approaching cooler temps and cloud cover expected by noon. There is soft settled powder capped with a thin crust on the highest due north aspects.

Week in Review by Greg Gagne - [Detailed Version]
recent activity

Yesterday the heat wave came sooner than expected to the mountains and created a natural wet loose avalanche cycle at lower elevations. Many backcountry travelers reported the loose wet activity starting as early as 9:00 am on the steeper sun lit slopes.

Down south in the Provo area one party had to turn around on Timpanogos when roller-balls started showering down upon them - they also observed a natural avalanche that poured over a 100' foot cliff. (Picture below)

Photo of a natural avalanche down in Timpanogos. (Photo: wasatchavyobs)
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

WET LOOSE AVALANCHES - This morning we may see a period of sunshine, perhaps enough that it may soften the snow surface. As the sun comes out; remember to always be aware of what slopes are above or adjacent to you - especially those that are heating up. If you see roller balls trickling down it's time to switch aspects or move to lower angle terrain.

LOOSE DRY / WIND ISSUES - As a fast moving cold front comes in this morning be prepared to shift your focus from loose wet to dry snow avalanches. Especially, if we get a period of intense snow fall where it stacks up rapidly. If winds kick up more than expected and or we receive more snow than expected, you can bet on loose dry avalanches sliding on the old slick surfaces and touchy shallow wind slabs on the leeward side of the mountain. It's spring and conditions can change minute by minute.

CORNICE - These monsters are still hanging in balance. If you're walking ridges today remember that these beasts are overhanging and often times break way further back than expected.

SLIDE FOR LIFE - Hard icy surfaces can lead to slipping and without a way to self arrest could be tragic. If you find your-self in steep terrain today have a way to prevent a slide for life from happening. Whippets, mountaineering axe, and or crampons are all good tools to carry.

weather

This morning we have cooling temperatures and increasing cloud cover as a small cold front pushes into the mountains of northern Utah. As the storm arrives we should start seeing snow flurries by late morning and into early afternoon. Winds will be light and out of the north blowing 10-20 mph with gusts into the 20's at the upper elevations. We should see 2"-5" inches (0.3"-0.6" h20) of snow by the dinner hour. The storm exits the area and high pressure returns for Monday.

general announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

To get help in an emergency (to request a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911. Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.

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.

EMAIL ADVISORY If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.

DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

TWITTER Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures: LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Powderbird Helicopter Skiing - Blog/itinerary for the day

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

To those skinning uphill at resorts: it is critical to know the resort policy on uphill travel. You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI: Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC. Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

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