Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Mark Staples
Issued by Mark Staples on
Monday morning, February 24, 2020
Today, the avalanche danger is MODERATE at upper elevations on any slope with fresh slabs of wind drifted snow. These slabs should be shallow and not widespread.
On low and mid elevation slopes or slopes either scoured or untouched by the wind, the avalanche danger is LOW.
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Weather and Snow
Yesterday, warm temps and strong sunshine warmed the snow on most slopes enough to make it wet. These slopes should be frozen solid with a hard ice crust this morning. Only north facing slopes at upper elevations still have dry powder.
This morning, temperatures plummeted into the single digits F above 9000 feet. At about 7000 feet, temperatures are in the teens F and in the low 20s F below that elevation. Around 3 a.m. this morning, strong west winds on Ogden Peak were blowing 50-60 mph and gusting 80 mph. At 6 a.m. these winds had decreased and were averaging 20-30 mph gusting 30-40 mph.
Today will be cold and cloudy with a chance for some snow to fall but not accumulate. Very strong winds this morning should ease today, but continue from the west and northwest. Temperatures will sruggle to reach the low 20s F.
Recent Avalanches
Yesterday's warm temperatures heated the snow but caused minimal wet avalanche activity.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
This morning's strong winds have drifted snow and formed shallow, fresh slabs that will be the only avalanche problem today. They should be very small because there is minimal snow for them to transport. The main source of snow for these winds to transport is upper elevation, north-facing slopes that still have dry powder. I would mainly expect these shallow wind slabs to exist on cross-loaded north-facing slopes, but the best thing to do is simply look for evidence of wind loading rather than think about compass directions.
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.