Forecast - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Friday morning, May 1, 2026

Thank you for a great season. We’ll see you next fall! Remember to practice good habits and follow proper protocol when heading into the backcountry.

During the spring, there are typically three different avalanche problems:

Wet Snow: Wet loose avalanches, wet slab avalanches, roof slides, and glide avalanches
New Snow: New storm snow instabilities; soft slab avalanches and loose dry avalanches
Wind Drifted Snow: Wind slabs; soft or hard drifts of wind-blown snow

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

Learn how to read the forecast here

Special Announcements

If you are looking to travel uphill at the ski areas, then check out the UAC Uphill Travel Policy page before heading out.

Weather and Snow

Click HERE to access our weather page for up-to-date weather station data to help plan your tour based on new snow, temperature, wind speed, and direction.

Our partners at the National Weather Service put out a weather discussion HERE.

Recent Avalanches

View observations HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

When cold, dry snow becomes wet for the first time, it almost always means wet sluffs (loose snow that fans outward as it descends).

Larger wet slab avalanches can happen when melt water percolates through a layered, winter snowpack for the first time especially after multiple days of warm temperatures combined with no refreeze at night.

Glide avalanches occur regularly in spring as the entire snowpack slides slowly on the ground like a glacier until they suddenly release into a full-depth avalanche. These occur periodically on steep rock slabs and occasionally on steep grassy slopes. Notorious glide avalanche locations include Stairs Gulch or the rock slabs in Broads Fork. Avoid crossing under any slopes with cracks to the ground in the snowpack. Remember, they come down randomly, even at night.

Warning signs may include:

Rollerballs (pinwheels) in new snow that is getting wet for the first time
Natural or human-triggered wet sluffs
Small sluffs fanning out into larger slides or running long distances
Cornices breaking off

These signs mean it's time to head home or change to an aspect with cooler snow. Remember, even "smaller" slides can be dangerous in high-consequence terrain, such as above a terrain trap, trees, rocks, cliffs, or a long, large avalanche path.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

We almost always get winter-like snow storms well in the spring. Treat each storm just like you would in winter. Avalanches can occur within the new snow typically from 1) low-density layers deposited during the storm, 2) high precipitation intensity during a storm, and 3) from wind slabs created during the storm.

It's easy to test the new snow as you travel by jumping on small test slopes to see if they avalanche or dig down with your hand to see how well the new snow is bonding. Snow can change dramatically in both space and time, so never let your guard down. Avoid any steep slope with recent wind deposits. Practice good backcountry protocol:

Check your gear before every tour, and make sure each person has a working transceiver, shovel, and probe before entering avalanche terrain
Only expose one person to a steep slope at a time
Never travel above other people

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Wind can rapidly load snow onto steep slopes, making them more prone to avalanches. Avoid slopes greater than 30° in steepness if you see signs of wind-drifted snow, such as rounded and pillowy features, and shooting cracks. In some cases, wind drifts can sound hollow like a drum.

Additional Information

You can continue to submit observations and avalanches HERE, and check out the most recent observations and avalanches HERE. Though the regularity of publishing may vary.
Learn what to watch for during spring avalanche conditions when the snow becomes wet with this video from the UAC.
Thanks to all of you who have sent observations this season. Crowdsourcing is the most valuable source of information we get.
Thanks to the National Weather Service for providing office space, weather forecasting, tech support, and great company.
A special thanks to everyone who donates directly to the Utah Avalanche Center. We couldn’t do this without your support.
The Utah Avalanche Center is a partnership between the Forest Service and the nonprofit Utah Avalanche Center. We appreciate the ongoing support and partnership with our local Forest.
This season, our forecast staff included Director Paige Pagnucco, Drew Hardesty, Nikki Champion, Toby Weed, Craig Gordon, Brett Kobernik, Eric Trenbeath, Trent Meisenheimer, Brooke Maushund, and Bo Torrey.
Caroline Miller has led the nonprofit for the past two seasons. Staff this year included Kate Waller, McKinley Talty, Jeremy Collett, Paul Diegel, Liam McDonald, Claire Hurty, Chad Brackelsberg, Laurel Vincent, Travis Morrison, Greg Gagne (forecaster), Andy Nassetta (forecaster), Dave Garcia (forecaster), and interns Artie Cohen and Maddie Stagg.
The Board of Directors includes TJ Kolanko, serving as interim executive director, along with Eric Quilter, Doug Freeman, Holli Slack, Alan Richards, Caitlin Hansen, Christian Schauf, Hannah Follender, Kirk Chester, Michael Shea, Nicole Sumner, Oliver Young, Randy Hartwig, Rich Mrazik, and Sara Goeking.
Direct funding comes from longtime partners, including the Utah Division of Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, the Utah Department of Transportation, and Salt Lake County.
We couldn’t access many areas without support and snowmobiles from Ski-Doo, Karl Malone Powersports SLC, Young Powersports, and Northstar’s Ultimate Outdoors.
Business sponsors who donate to the Utah Avalanche Center are too numerous to list here, but you can find them on our Sponsors page.

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