Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Trent Meisenheimer
Issued by Trent Meisenheimer for
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
The avalanche danger is LOW on all aspects and elevations. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. Continue to identify and avoid any of the rounded, smooth or scalloped wind drifts on any steep slopes. Keep in mind that even a small avalanche in dangerous terrain can be deadly.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
The report from Friday's avalanche accident is finished and can be found HERE. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends that are effected by this accident.
Weather and Snow
This morning we will see high clouds early in the day that should break up by the afternoon providing some sunshine. Temperatures took a dive overnight with many upper elevation thermometers reading in the teens to low twenties °F. Northerly winds finally calmed down after yesterday's weak storm system that passed over head. This morning the winds are from the northerly direction and are currently blowing 10-15 mph with gusts into the low 20's at upper elevations. Mid elevations, the winds are calm.
The northerly winds have done their work at the upper elevations creating sastrugi and wind board in many locations. Mid and low elevation shady terrain that is sheltered from the wind/sun provides soft settled powder. Southerly aspects will be crusted this morning and depending on cloud cover and your location they may or may not soften with day time heating.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches were reported from the backcountry. List of all backcountry observations can be found HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Wind Drifted Snow: Since January 21st we have seen multiple wind events with plenty of new snow to blow around. This has created new and old drifts of wind blown snow at the upper elevations and well down ridges into gullies and sub-ridges. However, these wind drifts and slabs have had time to adjust and gain strength and seem to be welded in place. For today, keep an eye out for new and old drifts of wind blown snow and avoid them. The good news, is these drifts should be easy to identify and easy to avoid. Keep in mind that even a small avalanche in dangerous terrain can be deadly and there remains the isolated chance that some of these shallow drifts remain active.
  • Cornices: continue to grow and some are massive. Give these yawning giants some room and avoid walking up to any edge where you can't see over it.
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.