Avalanche forecast

Ogden

Issued Feb 19, 2026valid to Feb 20, 2026Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago.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

Highlights

The avalanche danger is HIGH on upper-elevation slopes facing northwest through north and east. New snowfall and strong winds have created very dangerous conditions. Avalanches triggered in wind-drifted or new snow could step down more than 3 feet into weak-faceted snow, producing large, dangerous, and potentially deadly slides. Both natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely.

With clearer weather, backcountry riders may be tempted by these appealing conditions, but avalanche danger remains high. Most avalanche accidents occur after peak instability. Fortunately, avalanche terrain can be easily avoided, and excellent riding is available on lower-angled slopes. Remember, once you leave a ski resort boundary, you are entering backcountry terrain.

What to do today:

Stick to slopes less than 30 degrees
Stay well away from slopes connected to or below anything steeper than 30 degrees

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
2
The winds have been moderate to strong over the past few days. Combined with up to 27 inches of new snow now available for transport, these winds have formed and will continue to form slabs of wind-drifted snow on upper- and mid-elevation slopes. Slopes facing SE through N to NW are particularly susceptible. These slabs are most common near ridgelines and on mid-slope features such as gullies and convex rolls.

These smooth, rounded pillows of wind-drifted snow rest on the Dry January weak layer. Alone, they could catch and carry a rider, but when combined with the buried weak layers, they have the potential to trigger much larger avalanches.

Best Bet: Stick to sheltered, lower-angle terrain out of the wind. Watch for drifts, dunes, pillows, and wind-textured surfaces, as these indicate recent wind loading. If the snow beneath your feet sounds hollow, like styrofoam, this is a sign you may have found a slab.
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
3
The Dry January Layer (DJL) formed during our January dry spell can be found on upper- and mid-elevation W-N-E facing slopes. This morning, up to 20 inches of snow sits on the DJL in non-wind-loaded areas. This layer is likely responsible for much of the avalanche activity observed yesterday.

Large slabs now exist across much of the range, resting on the very weak DJL. This strong-over-weak structure is very likely to produce large, destructive avalanches that are big enough to bury and kill a person and potentially damage a vehicle. These slabs can propagate widely and may be triggered remotely from a distance. If you’re considering “safe” travel on a ridgeline, remember you could become a hazard to those below if you trigger or remotely trigger a slide on adjacent slopes, especially in busy terrain. Always be aware of who and what is above and below you. Safer riding conditions are found on slopes less than 30° with no overhead hazard.

Wind-loaded slopes mentioned above remain the most suspect.

Poor snowpack structure on a protected E Aspect near 7100' K. Davis
Storm Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1
On wind-protected slopes and features in the areas that were favored by this storm, such as the Powder Mountain or Monte Cristo, lingering new snow instabilities are still possible today, generally appearing in two ways:

Storm slabs: Denser new snow may slide on top of, or into, weak old snow. Be cautious of triggering these above terrain traps such as road cuts, creeks, or gullies. Cracking along the snow surface is a sign you’ve found a slab.

Loose dry sluffs: Unconsolidated dry snow can run fast and far. Small sluffs can knock you off your feet, while larger ones could bury a person. They are most common on steeper slopes, especially where graupel has accumulated.

Avalanche Warning

What: The avalanche danger for the warning area is HIGH today.

Where: The mountains of northern, central, southwestern, and southeastern Utah, including the Abajo Range, as well as southeastern Idaho.

Impacts: Recent heavy snow combined with strong wind has created widespread areas of unstable snow. Both human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely.

What to do: Avoid all avalanche terrain. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30°. Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue equipment. Find safer riding conditions on slopes less than 30° with no overhead hazard

Warning Times: Thursday, 2/19/26 at 6:00 AM MST through 6:00 AM MST Friday, 2/20/26

Special Announcement

Avalanche Warning vs. Watch: The UAC upgraded our Avalanche WATCH to our first Avalanche WARNING of the season today. An Avalanche WARNING, the most severe avalanche alert product we have, is issued when large avalanches are certain or very likely in many areas and when unusually dangerous avalanche conditions exist. More info on each of these from Bruce Tremper and Drew Hardesty HERE.

Recent Activity

In the Ogden area, conditions have been active, though no recent avalanches were reported from the backcountry. Ski resorts and guide services noted strong winds and heavy snowfall, with precipitation rates at times up to 2 inches per hour. Snow depths felt deeper than boards suggested, likely due to wind redistribution.

Multiple wind slabs were triggered on N-NE aspects from overnight SW winds, and soft slabs were widespread across all elevations and aspects from heavy precipitation. Avalanches continued to occur on the January persistent weak layer, including on northerly slopes around 8,000' that had previously been mitigated. Natural avalanche activity remained limited during the day, but the slopes remain reactive.

You can view all recent observations here.

Snow and Weather

Since Monday evening, an impressive series of storms has moved through the state. Yesterday, the flow briefly shifted to northwest, which again favored northern ranges, producing about 12 inches of new snow, before returning to southwest by midday. Heavy snow and strong winds persisted through most of the day, tapering off through the night, with the bulk of precipitation falling between 5 AM and 5 PM. Final storm totals as of this morning are:

Northern Ogden Range: up to 27 inches of snow // 2.90" H2O
Snowbasin: up to 18 inches of snow // 1.93" H2O

Today, the storm has moved out, leaving a few light showers this morning, but we can little accumulation. Snowfall should stay under an inch during the day. Temperatures will climb into the upper teens, with southwesterly winds blowing 10 to 15 mph along most upper-elevation ridgelines, gusting to 25 mph and up to 35 mph at the highest peaks.

Another system arrives this evening, mainly impacting central and southern Utah, with northern Utah on the edge and likely seeing lower totals. Snow should begin between 6 and 10 pm, with the best chance for steadier snowfall Friday afternoon before drying out Friday night. This next flow will likely dip a bit too far south to impact much of the Ogden region, but if it does it will be on the later end of the storm and give just a few inches.

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