Avalanche forecast

Ogden

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE on upper elevations facing northwest through east where avalanches may fail on a weak layer of snow down at the ground. The hazard is CONSIDERABLE on all mid and upper elevation aspects for triggering new snow avalanches as well as wind drifted snow avalanches. At low elevations the hazard is Moderate. Avoid being on and underneath any slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    3

    The good news is that the Ogden mountains had very little snow prior to the onset of this Thanksgiving week storm. However, there was some old snow on northerly aspects at the highest elevations, and this snow became weak, sugary, and faceted. Heavy snowfall over the past week combined with strong winds from the south and north has overloaded this weak snow, creating areas where avalanches failing down at the ground are possible.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Overnight and into this morning the westerly winds have blown the new snow into sensitive drifts on all mid and upper elevation aspects. Expect both hard and soft slabs of wind drifted snow. Look for signs of sensitive wind drifted snow, such as shooting cracks, pillowy rounded snow, hollow sounding snow, and avoid those areas.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Over the past week the Ogden area mountains have received 40-50" of new snow. This snow has come in many waves with a lot of different temperatures and densities. You cannot rule out new snow soft slab avalanches on all aspects and elevations. Use test slopes and stability tests to determine if the new snow is unstable. Sticking to slopes under 30° in steepness is a good bet for today as we let the snow settle and gain strength.

Special Announcement

The First Annual Statewide Avalanche Awareness Week is December 2-7. We have a week full of fun and educational events planned. Check out the schedule here.

Drew Hardesty released the first UAC podcast of the season " Early Season Essentials with Program Director Bo Torrey" check it out HERE.

Recent Activity

Reports from the Ogden backcountry included localized cracking and collapsing in the storm snow. Ogden-area resorts reported sensitive storm snow during the morning hours yesterday, including some natural activity in steep rocky terrain. One observation reported finding faceted snow on a northerly aspect above 7,500' in elevation where they experienced a loud collapse of the snowpack.

Snow and Weather

Yesterday's cold front came in around noon shifting the winds to the northwest, dropping the temperatures and bringing snow to the valley floor. In the past 24 hrs the Ogden area has picked up another 6-12" of new snow with 0.60" of water. Overnight and into this morning the westerly winds continue to blow at speeds of 10-15 mph gusting into the 30's at upper elevations. Temperatures plummeted yesterday afternoon and are now sitting in the teens °F.

As the storm exits to our east we will remain under a cold west-north-west flow and the northerly winds are expected to continue into the late afternoon with speeds of 10-15 mph gusting into the 30's. We should see another 2-5" of new snow this morning into the afternoon before tapering off later this evening.

What a week of weather!!! Storm snow totals since Monday the 25th are trickling in and it's impressive:

Ogden Mountains: 40-50" snow (4.0 - 4.8" h20)

Provo Mountains: 18-24" snow (1.0 - 2.0" h20)

Wasatch Mountains: 50-70" snow (3.5 - 4.34" h20)

Park City Ridgline: 30-40" snow (2.5 - 3.0" h20)

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.

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