Avalanche forecast

Ogden

Issued Mar 13, 2023valid to Mar 14, 2023Utah Avalanche Center

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Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Areas of MODERATE avalanche danger exist in the backcountry.

You can still trigger lingering soft and hard slabs in isolated terrain, particularly in the mid and upper elevations. Shallow dry and wet loose snow sluffs may also be expected in typical steep terrain.

Good travel habits save lives. Make a plan. Keep an eye on each other.

The avalanche danger will be on the rise over the next few days in lockstep with this next wet, warm, and windy storm.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Pockets of soft and hard slabs of wind drifted snow exist in the mid and upper elevations on many aspects. These may be increasingly stubborn to trigger, but don't rule out triggering one of these in steep, localized terrain features. Bill Brandt noted a signiicant natural hard slab avalanche in heavily wind loaded terrain near the Rodeo Ridge area on Friday.

CORNICES are currently large and growing and may be particularly sensitive and tender during periods of sun, warm temperatures and strong winds. Give cornices, and the edges of cornices a wide berth as they often break farther back than expected. Limit your exposure to slopes below cornices. Cornices are signs that a slope has been wind loaded and a cornice fall could trigger a larger slab of wind-drifted snow below.

Special Announcement

The UAC is currently working with the operation involved in Thursday's fatal avalanche in the Uintas to prepare a report. Please be patient as we sort out the details of this complicated incident. A preliminary report is available HERE.

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Recent Activity

Ski area avalanche teams yesterday reported triggering shallow soft slabs as well as both wet loose and dry loose sluffs in steeper terrain.

Get all observations HERE.

Snow and Weather

Skies are overcast. Winds are light from the west. Mountain temperatures are in the upper 20s.

Snow showers added 2-5" of medium density snow through mid-morning yesterday.

Today will be very spring-like with periods of sun, periods of snow showers. There is some chance of lightning/thunder in the afternoon. Mountain temps rise to the upper-20s up high, the upper-30s down low. Winds are expected to be light from the west.

I view today as another day of rest ahead of the next atmospheric river event, due to impact Utah tomorrow afternoon. Winds will ramp up to strong from the southwest with rain up to 8000' in the afternoon. Warm wet and windy again Tues afternoon through Wednesday afternoon before, mercifully, the cold front arrives. All told, I would expect upwards of 1.5" of precipitation and 10-18" of snow through early Thursday.

Additional Info

While not directly avalanche problems, tree wells, "snow immersion suffocation" is a backcountry danger worth noting. Read more HERE. With so much snow on rooftops in mountain communities, roof avalanches will be a significant hazard as the sun warms roofs in mountain neighborhoods. Children playing and adults shoveling solo are especially vulnerable to this hazard.

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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures