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Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Mark Staples
Issued by Mark Staples for
Thursday, November 23, 2017

Avalanche conditions are generally safe and the avalanche danger is LOW. With recent rain and warm weather, the snow surface is mostly wet and the snowpack is only 1 foot deep at the most. Rocks and stumps are a hazard now as well. A low danger does NOT mean no danger - just that the odds of triggering an avalanche are really small.

We'll continue with intermittent advisories until more snow falls.

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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements

For more info on the Ogden Backcountry Bash, click here

Our Education and Calendar pages are already chock-full of classes and events - find something that suits you, like our Companion Rescue workshops, a free Know Before You Go awareness talk, or sign up for our of our Backcountry 101 classes.

Unopened ski area terrain has a backcountry snowpack, as avalanche mitigation work has not been done. Each resort has different uphill travel policies - please abide by signage and closures and check in with the local ski patrol.

Weather and Snow

It's another very warm day with mountain temperatures this morning mostly in the upper 30's F. Even on top of James Peak (9425 ft), it is 39 degrees F. Winds are averaging 20 mph from the SW. Snow depths on notherly and easterly aspects are only 6-12 inches at the most.

A combination of rain on Tuesday, warm air temperatures, and clouds have caused the snow surface to become wet.

Recent Avalanches

There has been no reported, recent avalanche activity.

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Avalanche Problem #1
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Now is a great time to get out, enjoy the mountains, and get you and your gear ready for when snow starts falling for real. If there's enough snow to ski or ride, there's enough to produce an avalanche. Since conditions are less than ideal, consider using this time to:

  1. Put fresh batteries in your avalanche transceiver
  2. Check your shovel and probe to make sure they are in good conditions
  3. Practice a few quick searches with your friends

Avalanches never happened when you're prepared, so take the time now to get ready.

Additional Information

Today will be another warm one with high temperatures in the mountains climbing into the 50's F. SSW winds will blow 10-20 mph with higher gusts. The ridge of high pressure over northern Utah will flatten today as a small weather disturbance moves overhead tonight and Friday. Some rain will fall Friday morning. Another ridge of high pressure will bring more warm, dry weather for this weekend followed by another small storm Monday. Cold air with this storm may even bring a touch of snow to the valley.

General Announcements

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

To get help in an emergency (to request a rescue) in the Wasatch, call 911. Be prepared to give your GPS coordinates or the run name. Dispatchers have a copy of the Wasatch Backcountry Ski map.

Backcountry Emergencies. It outlines your step-by-step method in the event of a winter backcountry incident.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry, but no one is hurt and you do not need assistance, please notify the nearest ski area dispatch to avoid a needless response by rescue teams. Thanks.

EMAIL ADVISORY If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.

DAWN PATROL Hotline updated daily by 5-530am - 888-999-4019 option 8.

TWITTER Updates for your mobile phone - DETAILS

UDOT canyon closures: LINK TO UDOT, or on Twitter, follow @UDOTavy, @CanyonAlerts or @AltaCentral

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Powderbird Helicopter Skiing - Blog/itinerary for the day

Lost or Found something in the backcountry? - http://nolofo.com/

Ski Utah mobile snow updates

To those skinning uphill at resorts: it is critical to know the resort policy on uphill travel. You can see the uphill travel policy for each resort here.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI: Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC. Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

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