A MODERATE danger exists in the mid and upper elevations. The danger is for fresh wind drifts on all aspects but most pronounced on north to west to south facing slopes. In isolated terrain, these drifts may step down into older weaker snow on northwest to east facing slopes. Human triggered avalanches are possible.
East winds. Wind drifts will be most prevalent on north to west to south facing terrain but terrain channeling can develop drifts onto any aspect. Even mid-elevation anemometers overnight clearly held wind speeds suitable for perfect wind slab development. Watching for shooting cracks or collapsing in the new drifts.
Yesterday backcountry skiers in the Salt Lake mountains triggered three separate avalanches 10-18" deep into our Jan/Feb drought layer that is now our prime persistent weak layer. With the additional couple inches of snow and wind, it may be possible to trigger these in west to north to east facing slopes today and more likely in the southern part of the Ogden area mountains toward Thurston, Bountiful and Sessions area. Cracking and collapsing are key indicators of instability. You may also be able to trigger these at a distance.
We didn't hear of any avalanches in the Ogden area mountains.
We have an old saying in the Wasatch that Nothing good comes with an east wind.
As a large Pacific storm system sits roughly to the west of us, the central and southern parts of the state are seeing the most impacts while we're left holding the bag of light snow accumulations and bitter east winds.
The Ogden mountains picked up a trace to 2". Temperatures are on eithe side of zero with easterly winds blowing 20-25mph. Wind chill is -30°F along the ridgelines.
If we're lucky, we'll squeeze another inch or two out of this storm before it moves on. Winds will shift to the north and diminish by midday; temps will continue to drop.
Skies will start to trend mostly cloudy this evening with some clearing for tomorrow ahead of a weak disturbance tomorrow night into Friday. Clear and warm for the weekend.
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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.
