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Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Nikki Champion
Issued by Nikki Champion on
Thursday morning, January 9, 2020
A MODERATE danger exists at mid and upper elevation aspects where fresh slabs of wind drifted snow can be found and human triggered avalanches are possible. Be particularly wary around cornices along the ridgelines.
A LOW danger exists on low elevation aspects where generally safe avalanche conditions exist.
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Weather and Snow
Since yesterday morning, the mountains near Ogden picked up 3-5 inches (0.2-0.3 inches of water) of low-density snow in mountains. The bulk of this snow came in yesterday midday.
This morning, mountain temperatures are in upper teens F at trailheads and low teens to single digits F at ridgetops. Westerly winds have backed off this morning after blowing all day yesterday and into the early evening with gusts near 50 mph at the upper elevations early last night.
Today, the westerly winds will remain light overall but we could see some gusts near 30 mph before the wind switches to west-northwesterly and start to pick up again this evening. Occasional snow showers will continue through the day. Temperatures will be in the low 20s F.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches reported in the backcountry or ski resorts yesterday.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
We got 3-5 inches of new snow, and the westerly winds continued to blow throughout the day yesterday and into the early evening hours last night. Expect to see fresh slabs of wind drifted snow near ridgelines, on leeward aspects, open bowls, and in cross-loaded features like gullies.
Look for slopes with signs of wind drifted snow and avoid them. They'll be more prominent on aspects with a north or easterly component, but scattered across the compass especially at the mid-elevations.
Photo of a crack in a slope on Cutler Ridge, an obvious sign of wind drifted snow. See full ob HERE. (Photo: D. DeBruin)
In areas that don’t have wind drifted snow simply watch for the new snow avalanches. While I am unsure if this new snow will fracture as a slab I would expect the new snow to produce loose sluffs on steep terrain and it could produce soft slabs maybe 6 inches deep. Yesterday Mark found a stout crust on south aspects (photo below) and that could be a bed surface for new snow avalanches to run far and fast. Look for signs of instability throughout the day, and consider the consequences of steep terrain.
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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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