Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Greg Gagne
Issued by Greg Gagne on
Friday morning, April 10, 2020
The avalanche danger is LOW, rising to MODERATE during the afternoon due to warming of the snowpack. Concerns for today involve wet avalanches, including loose, wet sluffs and isolated wet slab avalanches. Also, avoid traveling on or underneath large cornices as they can break off naturally.
Pay attention to rapidly-changing springtime conditions.
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Weather and Snow
Currently: With the arrival of Thursday's cold front, temperatures dipped, but are still above freezing in most mountain locations, in the low to mid 30's F. Winds are very light (less than 10 mph) and skies are clear. Despite the above-freezing temperatures, the cool temperatures and clear skies should yield a frozen snow surface this morning.
Today: Sunny and mild. Temperatures will rise into the 40's and winds will be from the south/southeast and remain light, with gusts only reaching the low teens.
This Weekend: Winds will increase Saturday ahead of a cold front, with colder temperatures and unsettled weather into the early part of this coming week. Accumulations will be minor, however.
Recent Avalanches
No backcountry observations were received from the Ogden mountains on Thursday. On Wednesday, a glide avalanche was reported above North Ogden (observation)
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
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Description
The avalanche danger starts out LOW this morning, rising to MODERATE during the afternoon due to warming of the snowpack. In general, wet avalanche activity is managed most effectively by timing - once the snow surface becomes wet and sloppy, it is time to move to a shadier aspect. Watch for signs of wet, loose snow including rollerballs and sluffing in the wet snow.
However, avalanche concerns in the spring can become complicated, and two other concerns to watch for today include:
1. Wet Slabs - Wet slab avalanches occur when meltwater from rain or warm temperatures percolate down through the snowpack and weaken the bonds (strength) of a buried weak layer. These avalanches can be human-triggered, but also occur naturally, including triggering from a small, wet-loose avalanche or cornice fall. Colder temperatures should lock up the snowpack this morning, but strong sunshine today could provide enough warming to trigger isolated wet slabs. These could occur on any aspect facing west, south, through east, as well as northerly aspects at the low and mid elevations.
2. Cornices - Cornices in some places are massive, and they can break off naturally, especially during warm weather when they start bending downhill. Simply avoid being underneath or near the tops of large cornices as they break farther back than expected.
Additional Information
Information on outdoor recreation - The State of Utah created this webpage with information about recreating on both state and federal public lands during the current health crisis.

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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.