Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Drew Hardesty
Issued by Drew Hardesty on
Friday morning, December 28, 2018
Areas of CONSIDERABLE danger exist for steep wind drifted slopes. Human triggered avalanches are likely. These drifts will be more pronounced on steep north to west to south facing slopes in the upper elevations.
Safe travel protocol is key today: Travel one at a time in steep terrain, keep your partner in sight and be in position to get to them quickly should there be an avalanche.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
The new UAC IOS mobile app is now available on the app store. Check out the new "My Weather" feature.
Weather and Snow
Skies are partly cloudy with temps barely this side of zero. But it's the winds I don't like. They continued to veer northeast and east-northeast overnight and are blowing 20-25mph with gusts to 35. The most exposed anemometers have gusts to 50 and 60. Skiing and riding conditions have been excellent the last few days and even low elevation coverage is pretty good (except for some areas- see below). I was up on the Cutler Ridge yesterday and filed a report you can find under Observations.
Recent Avalanches
No activity reported from the backcountry or in the ski resorts yesterday.
Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
It should be a game changer. Watch for new and developing wind drifts in unusual locations today. The dastardly east to northeast winds have plenty of low density snow to blow around and these drifts will be very sensitive to human weight but again found in unusual locations. These soft drifts will be more prominent - but not limited to - the upper elevation north to west to southerly facing slopes. They'll also be cross-loaded beyond sub-ridges and around other terrain features and reactive to ski cuts and cornice drops.
Wind drifts can look rounded and smooth and certainly feel more thick or punchy when you move through them. Shooting cracks or audible collapsing of a drift on lower density snow below are red flags to turn around.
Additional Information
An avalanche-related close call occurred a couple days ago while two climbers were ascending an ice route in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Thanks to their write-up, their harrowing experience can be found in the observations. Roughly twenty years ago, a well known climber was killed in an avalanche on The Fang in Provo Canyon. The write-up can be found in the Snowy Torrents here. The authors in the accident report point out that on ice routes most of the time, "There is literally nowhere to hide when avalanches run".
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
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.
< Previous forecast
Next forecast >