Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Trent Meisenheimer
Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Monday morning, December 20, 2021
Areas of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exist on northwest through easterly facing slopes above about 8000'. Avalanches may break down 2' deep and propagate over a hundred feet wide. Cracking and collapsing are signs of instability. My advice is to stay on low-angle slopes with nothing steep above.
Remember: if you're headed out of bounds at a ski area you are entering Considerable avalanche danger.
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Weather and Snow
High pressure will continue over Northern Utah today, allowing for mostly clear skies and warm temperatures. Temperatures will rise into the mid 30's °F at 8,500', and you might see the occasional mid-to-high cloud stream by overhead; otherwise, it will be sunny. The current mountain temperatures are 34 °F at 6,000' and 24 °F across the Ogden Skyline at about 9,200' in elevation. Winds are currently from the southwest at speeds of 10-15 mph across the upper elevations.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches were reported from the Ogden Area.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
A poor snowpack structure exists on shady aspects above roughly 7500-8000'. Forecaster Greg Gagne toured near Powder Mountain on Saturday and experienced long shooting cracks and rolling thunder collapses. His video is below. His full report is HERE. At this point, the best strategy will be to avoid steep terrain that harbors this weak unstable snow structure. Remember that you can trigger these avalanches from a distance.
Additional Information
If you trigger or see an avalanche adjacent to the road or one of the ski areas and are sure no one was caught in the avalanche, call the nearest mountain dispatch and alert them to the situation, this will allow SAR teams to stand down, preventing them from being subjected to unnecessary hazard.
Salt Lake and Park City – Alta Central (801-742-2033)
Canyons Resort/PCMR Dispatch (435 -615-1911)
Snowbasin Resort Dispatch (801-620-1017)
Powder Mountain Dispatch (801-745-3772 x 123).
Sundance Dispatch (801-223-4150)
General Announcements

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.