Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Drew Hardesty
Issued by Drew Hardesty on
Saturday morning, February 23, 2019
A MODERATE danger exists for new and developing wind drifts today. The sensitive drifts will be most pronounced on steep north to east to south facing slopes above about 8000'...and pockety elsewhere. Watch for sluffing in the steepest, most confined terrain. Wind sheltered terrain has a generally LOW danger. Uncertainty exists for any wet loose point releases on the southerly facing slopes today - so watch for any wet rollerballs or sluffing with daytime warming.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Catch up on the past week of snow, weather and avalanches with Greg Gagne’s Week in Review.
Weather and Snow
Skies hold just a few clouds and a slowly setting and waning gibbous moon. It's a beautiful morning.
Mountain temperatures are in the single digits. Winds are west to northwest blowing 15-20mph with gusts to 30. The westerlies along the highest peaks and ridgelines are blowing 20-25mph with gusts to 35.
Snow depths are 80-100" in the upper elevations with six feet at the trailheads in many areas. Skiing and riding conditions have been excellent but you'll need to seek out wind and sun sheltered terrain today.

A moist westerly flow will begin to set up over the next week with some light precipitation (and a bit more wind) in the Ogden and Logan area mountains. Mountain temperatures will slowly warm to the upper 20s along the upper ridgelines by mid-week. For today, we'll have just partly cloudy skies with temps in the low teens at 9500' and near 20°F at 8500'. The west winds will slowly increase over the course of the day, blowing 20-25mph by late afternoon.
Recent Avalanches
Only shallow wind drifts and loose snow avalanches noted with ski cuts and explosives.
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Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Be on the lookout for developing shallow wind drifts along the higher elevations today. The low density snow will easily move with the slowly increasing westerlies today and tomorrow. These drifts may be up to a foot deep and more pronounced on steep north to east to south facing slopes above 9500'. Due to terrain channeling, pockety drifts may be found in the mid-elevation of all aspects. Take note that it may be possible for some drifts to be triggered remotely (at a distance).
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.