Avalanche forecast

Ogden

Issued Dec 16, 2020valid to Dec 17, 2020Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Most terrain has LOW danger. Areas of MODERATE danger, however, exist on some slopes, primarily in the upper elevations. The danger will be more pronounced on steep northwest to the north to south-east facing slopes. Human triggered avalanches a foot deep are possible and may be triggered at a distance. They may also be triggered from below. Collapsing and cracking are immediate signs of an unstable snowpack.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
2
Fresh wind drifts overnight dot the landscape, primarily in the upper elevations, and may be sensitive to triggering on and adjacent to steep terrain, primarily - but not limited to - northwest to east-facing slopes. Note that cracking and collapsing are signs of instability and caution a traveler to turn around or stay on low angle terrain. Again, many of these may be triggered at a distance. Approach any steep wind drifted slope with great caution.
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1
Overnight the northwesterly winds blew 10-15 mph gusting to 30 mph, and with some new snow available for transport, I would expect some new wind drifts across the upper elevation terrain. On slopes that harbor weak faceted snow, this wind will make the avalanches deeper and more likely to be triggered. As always, avoid steep slopes that are wind loaded. Usually, we can see where the wind blew the snow as it looks rounded, textured, wavey, or pillowy.

Snow and Weather

Under mostly cloudy skies, the northwesterly flow will try and squeeze the last remaining moisture from the atmosphere, with some lingering snow showers lasting into the early afternoon. Current mountain temperatures are in the mid-teens to low twenties °F. Westerly winds picked around 5 pm yesterday and are currently blowing 10-15 mph gusting to 30 mph across most upper elevation ridgelines.

We have a wet storm on the doorstep that should arrive tomorrow morning lasting through Friday. Ahead of the trough, the temperature warms up, and the winds will back to the southwest as the initial surge of moisture hits northern Utah. Once the trough passes through northern Utah, winds veer back to the northwest, and temperatures cool. It looks like we can expect 8-14" of new snow that contains 0.50-1.0" of water.

Recent Activity

None reported. Observer Paul LaStayo's observation from Powder Mtn is here.

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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

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