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Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Mark Staples
Issued by Mark Staples on
Monday morning, December 31, 2018
Today the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE at upper elevations, MODERATE at mid elevations and LOW at low elevations. The avalanche problem to look for and avoid is wind slabs that formed during the last few days but these could be tricky because winds have blown from a few different directions. Some older, harder wind slabs could be covered by last night's new snow making them harder to identify.
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Special Announcements
Weather and Snow
Since yesterday afternoon 4-6 inches of very light snow fell (0.2-0.4 inches of water).
Winds were blowing from the west yesterday 20-45 mph. This morning northerly winds are blowing 10-15 mph with some gusts of 20-28 mph.
Temperatures are in the teens F. Above 8000 feet, temperatures are in the single digits F.
Today will have mostly cloudy skies though the sun may appear and make some dramatic lighting. Temperatures should mostly remain as they are and begin falling tonight under clear skies. Winds will remain northerly at 10-20 mph and could even swing around and blow a little easterly.
Recent Avalanches
No avalanches were reported and initial reports from ski areas were that the new snow had a good bond with the old snow.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Slabs of wind-drifted snow may be tricky to identify today because winds have blown from various directions during the last few days. They blew from the East/Northeast Friday morning. They blew westerly yesterday, and were blowing northerly this morning. Today they may shift back to the East some today.
Mostly these wind slabs have been unreactive. Being stubborn and dense in places, these wind slabs may not fracture until you ride onto the middle of them. The best strategy is to seek terrain that is sheltered from winds of any direction.
Be especially watchful for slopes that do not normally have wind slabs. The snow surface weakened in places during recent cold weather. Sheltered slopes are prime locations for this weakening to happen, but if winds during the last several days drifted snow onto these slopes, the wind slabs could be very sensitive because they are resting on small, weak, faceted snow crystals.
General Announcements
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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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