Ogden

Lawinenprobleme

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  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  2

  We have a poor snowpack structure with strong snow over weak snow. And although we have received no snow this past week, there has been moderate to strong winds the past few days that have created areas with a denser slab of wind-blown snow on top of this weaker faceted snow. Over this past week there have been fewer avalanches and less collapsing and cracking reported, but some recent field observations in the Salt Lake mountains still report full propagation with extended column tests, indicating the propensity of the slab to propagate if you did get a collapse of the buried persistent weak layer.

  This poor structure is present on mid and upper elevation slopes facing west, through north, to southeast. Although avalanches are becoming less common, they are still possible and I would not be surprised to hear of another human-triggered avalanche failing on this buried persistent weak layer and I personally will continue to avoid slopes steeper than 30° in this suspect terrain.

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  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  2

  Strong winds from the past few days have created hard drifts of windblown snow in isolated areas at the mid and upper elevations. Overnight, strong winds and a little bit of new snow will likely have created a fresh batch of small soft slabs across the upper elevation terrain. In either case, the wind has drifted snow, creating shallow soft and hard slabs in steep leeward terrain.

  The winds have been primarily from the west/northwest. However, when winds are this strong, they can work through terrain and create drifts on almost any aspect. Fresh wind drifts often look pillowy, smooth, and rounded. Old hard drifts of windblown snow will feel stiff and sound hollow like a drum. As always, keep an eye out for drifts of windblown snow and avoid those areas.