Avalanche forecast

Ogden

Issued Dec 11, 2025valid to Dec 12, 2025Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A pockety MODERATE avalanche danger exists on some steep west to north to east facing slopes in the mid and upper elevations for triggering a 12-18" thick slab that fails on our old early season facets. Exercise caution in this terrain. The danger for wet avalanches will rise to MODERATE on many slopes today. Wet sluffs and possibly wet slabs will be likely in the coming days.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
A persistent weak layer (PWL) of early season facets makes up the base of the snowpack on west-north-east facing slopes at the mid and upper elevations.In these areas, it is still possible to trigger an avalanche up to about 18 inches deep and over 100 feet wide. Cracking and collapsing are become less common and snow tests hint at slow stabilization, yet persistent weak layers come by their name honestly. Exercise caution if you're traveling through steep terrain with this poor structure.

UAC staff were up near Powder Mountain yesterday to look at the snowpack. Trent Meisenheimer explains what he saw in the video below. (LINK). The full report can be found HERE.
Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Wet sluffs and wet slab avalanches will start to become a problem today through early next week. I've always felt uncomfortable forecasting wet avalanches and feel even less comfortable forecasting wet avalanches in mid-December. My recommendation - to keep it simple - is to pull the calendar off the wall and just observe what you're seeing and note how it feels under your feet. If you're seeing wet rollerballs and loose point releases and/or the snow starts to feel punchy and unconsolidated, head for a different aspect or low angle terrain. Remember that wet loose debris can pile up deeply in terrain traps.

Recent Activity

There were no new avalanches reported from the backcountry or the ski areas yesterday. The last reported avalanches were from the widespread natural avalanche cycle over the weekend - the heavy, dense snow and wind easily tipped the scales with soft slabs failing 12-18" deep on the old faceted snow.

Snow and Weather

Skies are clear.

Winds are moderate to strong from the west-northwest.

Mountain temperatures remain unseasonably warm. Some trailheads and base stations hit 50°F yesterday and it's only going to get warmer through the weekend. It should be noted that some low and mid-elevations have struggled to experience a proper refreeze for a few nights.

For today, we'll have sunny skies, moderate winds from the west-northwest and temps rising to the mis-30s up high and around 50°F down low.

For the longer range, it looks as if the ridge of high pressure gets squashed down mid-next week, allowing for a somewhat more active weather pattern from the west. I continue to eye the Solstice for a glimmer of hope.

This morning, you'll be skiing and riding coral and breakable crust until things soften with daytime heating. The highest elevations may host a sliver of dry -albeit wind damaged - snow. Snow coverage and riding conditions are a bit grim with 12-24 inches of snow on the ground up high but with plenty of bushes and dirt showing on many solar aspects. Derek DeBruin's report from Cutler Ridge in the north fork yesterday tells the tale.

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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures