Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Mark Staples
Issued by Mark Staples on
Saturday morning, December 22, 2018
New snow and increased winds overnight have created heightened avalanche conditions on any slope with wind drifted snow. You can trigger slabs of wind drifted snow on these slopes making the avalanche danger MODERATE at upper elevations. To find good riding conditions and good stability, ride slopes not affected by the wind.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
Snow fell yesterday morning and late last night totaling 4-6 inches (0.2-0.5 inches of water).
Temperatures dropped overnight. This morning they are in the upper teens F near 7000 feet and the low teens F around 9000 feet.
Winds increased overnight and this morning are blowing 10-15 mph gusting 20-30 mph. Winds are generally coming from a westerly direction this morning.
Today a short lived ridge of high pressure will move over the area. Skies will slowly clear and winds should ease with temperatures climbing into the mid 20's F. More snow should come with another storm system on Monday.
There should be a noticeable ice crust under the new snow on south facing slopes and low elevation slopes where the snow was a bit damp yesterday and now refrozen this morning.
Recent Avalanches
No avalanches were reported yesterday.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Westerly winds increased overnight and should have formed slabs of wind-drifted snow this morning. Look for and avoid these fresh wind slabs under ridge lines and along cross loaded ridges.
Also winds during the last week have grown cornices along ridge lines. These cornices may be sensitive today and could break as you approach them. Since they can break unpredictably, the best option is to generally avoid walking on top or being underneath them.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Pay attention to how the new snow feels under you feet and how it is bonded to the underlying snow surface. In many places the new snow landed on several inches of graupel that fell on Wednesday but should be well bonded today. I don't expect the new snow to break as a slab today and mainly just sluff in very steep terrain.
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.