Ogden
Avalanche danger
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
Highlights
The avalanche danger is LOW and avalanches are unlikely.
The biggest concerns are slide-for-life conditions on the slick crusts and getting injured in the shallow snowpack by hitting rocks or other obstacles.
Tread lightly.
Special Announcement
Please do everything possible to avoid getting hurt for yourself and the greater good. As you decide where and how to travel in the backcountry, consider adding just a little extra margin of safety.
Announcement: Please visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.
If you missed the 13th Annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop, the recordings are available for purchase from the UAC Store.
Recent Activity
No new avalanches were reported from the backcountry yesterday.
For recent observations from the backcountry, click HERE....or find them in the Observations and Avalanches tab in the Menu above.
Snow and Weather
Skies are clear.
Inversions continue to strengthen with warm air moving in aloft ahead of tomorrow's "storm". Temps along the Ogden skyline and James Peak are in the upper 20s while trailheads are in the upper teens.
Winds have also strengthened in the last couple of hours and are blowing 20-25mph from the southeast.
Snow surface conditions are something only a mother could love. 12-18" of snow sits on the ground at the mid and upper elevations, but it's threadbare and beat up and hammered by wind, sun, and thermal crusts. Even the north facing slopes developed a thin crust from the scorching temperatures earlier this week. The south facing slopes should soften somewhat today with direct sun and warming temperatures.
For today, we'll have sunny skies with some high cirrus streaming in over the course of the day. Winds will be south to southwesterly, blowing 20-25mph. Daytime highs will again reach into the upper 30s to low 40s. A weak cold front tomorrow afternoon will usher in cooler temps and perhaps 1-2" of snow if we're lucky. Another weak storm arrives for Thanksgiving.
Additional Info
Forecaster's Corner:
With clear skies and cold temperatures, the surface snow on the north side of the compass begins to become weak and faceted and generally lose cohesion (see Mark White video below). In the short term, this means you can buy a soft turn here or there, but in the long term it becomes a very real sliding surface for future avalanches whenever we see the next significant storms. This certainly applies to the couple inches of snow that fell mid-week in Ogden and Logan. This will be something to keep an eye on in the coming days (or weeks).
For the layperson, remember that ingredients for an avalanche often involve strong cohesive snow sitting above weak, sugary snow. Sugary faceted (angular) snow below.
General Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ
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.