Forecast: Ogden Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Issued by Nikki Champion on
Monday morning, December 30, 2024

The avalanche danger is HIGH on all upper-elevation aspects from northwest through north to east, where new snowfall and strong winds have created very dangerous conditions. Any avalanche triggered in the wind-drifted or new snow could step down 1-4 feet into weak faceted layers, resulting in large, dangerous, and potentially deadly avalanches. Both natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely.

There is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger on the remaining upper-elevation and all mid-elevation slopes due to heavy snow and elevated winds. Terrain that previously held weak faceted snow remains the most suspect.

What to do: Avoid avalanche terrain today. Stick to slopes less than 30 degrees, and stay well away from slopes connected to or below anything steeper than 30 degrees.

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Avalanche Warning

What: The avalanche danger for the warning area is HIGH today
Where: For the mountains of Northern Utah, and Southeastern Idaho, including the Uintas...Wasatch Range...Bear River Range...Wellsville Mountains

Impacts: Recent heavy snow combined with strong wind is creating 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: Monday December 30, 2024 - 6:00am to Tuesday, December 31, 2024 - 6:00am

Weather and Snow

This morning, skies are overcast, and snow continues to fall across the range. Temperatures are in the upper teens to low 20s °F. Winds have decreased overnight, now blowing west-northwest at 10-25 mph. Near the highest ridges, gusts are still reaching 45 mph. Weather stations report 2.5-7" of new snow overnight, bringing storm totals to 19"-31" of snow and up to 4" of water

Today, The Pacific Northwest storm system will exit the area this morning. Snow should taper off by afternoon, with an additional trace to 2 inches expected in the mountains. Winds will continue to ease throughout the day, averaging 10-15 mph at mid-elevations and 15-25 mph at the highest peaks, with gusts up to 40 mph. Temperatures will rise into the upper-20s and low 30s °F.

Looking Ahead: A gradual warming trend will take hold this week. A weak storm will graze northern Utah Wednesday into early Thursday, bringing 1-3" of snow to the northern mountains and 3-6" to the Bear River Range. Light snow showers may reach lower elevations like Cache Valley, with minor accumulations. Another, potentially stronger system is expected this weekend, with 6-12" of snow possible for the northern and central mountains, depending on its track and intensity.

Recent Avalanches

Between December 28th and 29th, 45 backcountry avalanches were reported to the Utah Avalanche Center from the Salt Lake, Provo, and Ogden area mountains. Of these, 11 occurred in the Ogden area alone. Many were triggered remotely or from a distance, and failed multiple feet deep and hundreds of feet wide. A huge thanks to Derek DeBruin who submitted many of those 11 avalanches reported, check out all his great photos HERE.

Ogden area ski resorts reported several D2 and D2.5 avalanches, some reaching the ground. A natural cornice drop triggered a D2 slide in a hanging snowfield.

Below is the avalanche heat map highlighting recent activity across the Salt Lake, Provo, and Ogden area mountains. For detailed observations and reports, check out all avalanche observations HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

A widespread persistent weak layer (PWL) of faceted snow is now buried under feet of recent storm snow, creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Upper-elevation terrain is the most suspect today, but mid-elevation terrain should still be treated with extreme caution.

Strong winds and heavy snowfall have overloaded this weak layer, leading to nearly 50 avalanches over the past three days, many of which were triggered naturally or remotely. With ongoing elevated winds and additional snowfall, avalanches on this PWL will continue to grow larger.

Avoid being on, underneath, or adjacent to slopes steeper than 30°. These slides can be triggered remotely, from a distance, or even from below.

Photo of a several hundred feet long crown at the top of The Ramp just below the Cutler Headwall. Debris traveled at least 1500ft down various gullies toward the Cutler Basin. This is the type of avalanche you could expect to see on the PWL. Photo: D. Debruin

If water percolates down to the persistent weak layer at lower and mid elevations, it could create a significant problem. While this is a more localized issue, as many of these areas had little to no snow before the recent storm, they could still catch riders off guard—especially those attempting to avoid the higher avalanche danger at upper elevations.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Northwesterly winds have been cranking the last few days, with gusts near 60 mph. With snow available for transport, we'll find both soft and hard slabs of wind-drifted snow on all upper and mid-elevation slopes. These high winds can load any aspect as they swirl and cross-load snow across the mountains.

These smooth, rounded pillows of wind-drifted snow may look inviting, but they’re sitting on top of very weak surface layers. While these drifts alone could catch and carry a rider, combined with buried persistent weak layers, they could trigger much larger avalanches, breaking 1-4 feet deep and up to 600 feet wide.

The best riding will be in sheltered, lower-angle terrain out of the wind.

Out of the wind zone: There may be sensitive new snow. Shallow avalanches, including sluffs and soft slabs, are likely, especially at upper elevations that avoided rain. At lower elevations, new snow on the rain crust may cause poor bonding, but slides will be shallower. Watch for instability signs like cracking and sluffing

Additional Information

It's not all doom and gloom. This weak layer will settle out eventually and, in the meantime, you can travel on slopes less than 30° in steepness, check out some of our free online learning, or work on your rescue skills in lower angle meadows.

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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