Forecast: Ogden Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Wednesday morning, April 1, 2020

At the upper elevation northerly-facing slopes a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists for fresh slabs of wind drifted snow up to 3 feet deep. Look for any signs of wind drifted snow, and avoid those slopes.

A MODERATE danger also exists on mid-elevation north-facing slopes where triggering on of these wind-slabs exists and on all elevation solar slopes as another day of warm temperatures and partly cloudy skies will cause wet-loose avalanches to develop during the heat of the day.

The danger is LOW at low elevation north-facing terrain where generally safe avalanche conditions exist.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

This morning, mountain temperatures are in the low 30s F at trailheads and upper 20s F at ridgelines. Winds are still elevated and currently westerly blowing 5-15 mph, with gusts above 30 mph at most-elevations. Since yesterday the Ogden area mountains picked up another 2-4 inches of snow.

Today, a slow-moving cold front will bring another chance of light snow showers and partly cloudy skies to the area. Mountain temperatures will be in the mid-30s F, Winds will become more northerly, averaging 10-20 mph at mid-elevations, and 30 - 40 mph at upper elevations with gusts reaching up to 60 mph.

The next round of precipitation should begin tonight and could bring 3-6" of snow to the area.

Recent Avalanches

Yesterday a few more soft slab avalanches of wind drifted snow were reported in the backcountry.

Photo of an avalanche reported in Middle Bowl Cirque at Snowbasin on a Northeast Slope at 9000'. (Photo: KS)

Check out all the recent slides HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

A few new inches of snow and elevated winds from the south and west yesterday into this morning may have transported snow and created recent-wind drifted snow in all upper-elevation aspects and isolated mid-elevation terrain features, such as northerly ridgelines and cross-loaded gullies. These drifts may be up to 3 feet deep and 100 feet wide and reactive to cornice drops and ski cuts. Avoid terrain features with any obvious signs of wind-drifted snow.

Pay attention to cornices: Many ridgelines now have overhanging cornices, and yesterday there were a few reports of cornice triggered wind slabs. A few days of strong winds at the uppermost ridgelines have made cornices even larger. Be sure to give cornices a wide berth as they typically break much further back than expected.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

There is still a lot of new snow on all slopes in the backcountry and once warm temperatures and sun hit this new snow, it immediately becomes wet and begins to produce wet avalanche activity. When I was traveling on the Park City Ridgeline, yesterday, I saw many small wet-loose avalanches and rollerballs on all aspects as soon as the sun came out.

Another day with warm temperatures and broken skies will quickly warm the snow on all solar aspects. Natural and human triggered loose wet sloughs will become likely as the slopes warm. These usually start at your feet and fan out below you. HOWEVER, watch out for these slides happening naturally especially if you are in a gully or any confined terrain where a small one could pile up deeply. Look for signs of wet snow like rollerballs.

Photo of wet activity on Mt. Raymond, in the Central Wasatch, yesterday - point releases and roller balls are a sign of wet snow. (Photo: Manship)

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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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