Avalanche forecast

Ogden

Issued Dec 24, 2022valid to Dec 25, 2022Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche danger is MODERATE onall mid and upper-elevation steep slopes for wind-drifted snow. These avalanches could be 1-2 feet deep and up to 100 feet wide. Human-triggered avalanches are possible.

Give extra caution to northerly (shady) facing terrain because of a buried persistent weak layer of faceted snow 1-4 feet deep. An avalanche here would likely be a season-ender or worse.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Over the past few days, strong winds have wreaked havoc throughout the mountains. Winds swirled and drifted snow on many terrain features like mid-slope break overs and cross-loaded ridges or gullies. Be on the lookout and avoid slopes where the wind has loaded and where it's possible to trigger a shallow soft or hard wind slab.

Any wind slab avalanche that you trigger has the potential to step down into deeper weak layers within the snowpack, creating a more dangerous avalanche.
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
3
Weak, sugary faceted snow (persistent weak layer) is now buried 1-4 feet deep on almost all aspects and elevations throughout the Wasatch Range. Avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer will likely be 1-4 feet deep and a few hundred feet wide. The most suspect slopes will be northerly facing terrain where it's been recently loaded by the wind.

It's been several days since we've seen an avalanche triggered on this persistent weak layer. However, even the slightest possibility of such an avalanche should lead you to tone down your terrain selection. I will continue to avoid steep north-facing terrain for the time being.

Snow and Weather

This morning, light snow is falling in some areas with mountain temperatures in the mid-20s °F. Winds are from the northwest blowing 5-15 mph across upper-elevation ridges and peaks. It looks like the Ogden Peak anemometer is rimed as it reports calm wind speeds. It's never calm up there!

Today, we will see cloudy skies with light snowfall and or rime for the morning hours. Accumulations will be lean, with a trace to maybe a couple of inches of new snow in favored locations. Temperatures will rise into the upper 20s °F this afternoon. Winds will remain from the northwest at speeds of 5-15 mph.

Special Announcement

Announcement: As the end of the year approaches, please consider a donation to the UAC to support avalanche forecasting.

Recent Activity

Late report of a snowboarder triggering a wind slab in Hells Canyon that almost caught and carried the rider into a terrain trap called the "cemetery." The wind slab was roughly 7" deep, 80' wide, and ran 250' downslope. This was reported through social media.

Be sure to check out all the observations HERE.

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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures