Avalanche forecast

Ogden

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger is MODERATE for triggering wet snow avalanches on all slopes this morning. The danger may rise to CONSIDERABLE with afternoon heating, with deeper gouging wet loose sluffs and even wet slabs possible at all elevations. Avoid drainages and gullies, terrain such as Hells Canyon, where even a shallow slide will run far and result deep, cement like debris piles.

The avalanche danger is MODERATE for triggering a lingering wind drift on steep, upper elevation northerly facing slopes slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    With a combination of thin clouds and very warm temperatures, shallow wet loose sluffs and slabs of new snow will again be easy to trigger on steep slopes of all almost aspects and elevation. These will average 4 to 8” deep, and run further and faster than expected on the slick ice crusts beneath. Entraining snow as they move downhill, even a shallow slide can stack up deep debris in terrain traps or against trees.

    Look for clues - as soon as the crusts soften and the snow becomes damp, wet or soggy where you are or you can trigger small wet sluffs, it’s a sign of unstable wet snow. It’s time to move to low angle slopes and avoid terrain traps such as gullies and drainages.

    At the mid to lower elevation, also be alert if snow snow is punchy, and you can break deeply into it, especially in shallow or rocky spots - deeper wet slab avalanches are possible. Again, avoid steep slopes. Snow conditions can change quickly with aspect and elevation.

    Yes, this is from Little Cottonwood. BUT...it is a 17 second video showing how you can get 4 feet of debris from a 6 inch deep wet slide and it holds true for the Ogden area mountains. (Greg Gagne)

Special Announcement

When the forecasting ends, the UAC’s work keeps going strong. Summer is a busy time for the UAC. During the summer we are working hard on our fall and winter planning; putting together the Fall Fundraiser and the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop; updating our awareness and education programs; this summer we will be finishing up the website redesign project. Your donation shows you’re invested in this community all year round! You can still be part of the UAC’s success in 2019.

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Recent Activity

There were no new observations from the Ogden area backcountry. Reports from the resorts yesterday were of wet snow sluffs, easily triggered with ski cuts, increasing in sensitivy with the afternoon heating. Mid elevations were noted as being more active in some terrain.

Snow and Weather

Yesterday’s storm totals came in at 5 to 10” of dense snow at the upper elevations in the Ogden area mountains, with the rain/snow line remaining at about 7,500’ throughout the storm. Water totals were impressive, with a combination of heavy snow and rain adding up to .8 to 1.5" of water. It will be typical spring conditions, with any “dry” snow only at the uppermost, northerly elevations with almost all other slopes will be crusted this morning before they rapidly heat once again.

Under partly cloudy skies, temperatures remained warm overnight, and are in the mid to upper 30s at all elevation except the high ridge lines. Mount Ogden has managed to cool into the upper 20s. The southwesterly winds are very light, almost all stations averaging 10 mph with gusts less than 15 mph. Mt Ogden is averaging 20 mph, with gusts in the low 20s.

It’s going to be a hot one today...highs today will be near 50 at 8,000’ and 40 on Mt Ogden. It will be a mix of sunny to partly cloudy, with high thin clouds in the mix. The southwesterly winds are forecast to remain light, though the highest peaks could gust into the upper 20s at times.

Additional Info

If you don’t like crusts and mashed potatoes, no worries - more storms are on the way. The first small storm should produce several inches of snow Friday night/Saturday morning, with a colder, larger storm around next Wednesday. We all love looking at these U of U products. Upper graphs - Snowbasin. Lower graphs - Powder Mountain

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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