Forecast: Ogden Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Issued by Drew Hardesty on
Wednesday morning, February 5, 2025

Areas of CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exist in steep wind drifted terrain. Human triggered avalanches remain likely and natural avalanches are possible. You are also likely to trigger wet avalanches big enough to bury a person on some slopes of the mid and low elevations. Please keep ROOF-AVALANCHES on your radar.

I have a lot of uncertainty in today's forecast; extra caution is advised.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Special Announcements

The Preliminary Report for Monday's Monte Cristo avalanche fatality is HERE. (photo below from yesterday)

Our condolences go out to the victim's friends and family and all those affected by this tragic accident. UAC staff visited the site yesterday and a full report is forthcoming.

Weather and Snow

Skies are overcast ahead of the next "storm". Winds remain strong from the southwest and temperatures are a touch cooler than the last several days, but not by much. Currently, temps are in the low 30s up high and near 40°F-50°F down low!

Wind and warmth have taken their toll on the riding conditions and you'll find damp snow on nearly all aspects and nearly all elevations; that, and tremendous wind effect.

For today, we'll have light snowfall that may add up to 2-4". Winds will remain moderate to strong from the southwest and then west. Temps will be in the upper 20s to upper 30s. Strong wind will continue ahead of the next storm, slated for Friday. We may see 4-8" of new with this next storm.

Recent Avalanches

A number of damp wind slab natural avalanches were noted in the Hells Canyon area adjacent to Snowbasin ski area on Monday. Details.

UAC staff went in to investigate the accident site in the Monte Cristo area and noted a fresh-looking wind slab along the way. Photo below. You can read their observation HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The winds remain merciless. You can still trigger soft and hard slabs of wind drifted snow on many aspects and elevations, but they may be more sluggish or stubborn than before. These drifts will be more pronounced on north to east facing slopes but really scattered across the compass. As some of these slabs are sitting on last week's weak snow, they may persist longer than normal. Caution is advised.

Cornices are becoming unruly along the ridgelines - remember to give these growing monsters a wide berth.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

There are two buried persistent weak layers (PWL) in the snowpack:

The upper layer formed during last week’s cold, clear weather and many wind slabs are failing at this layer, as mentioned above.

The lower layer, near the ground, has been spotty and inconsistent, but clearly the avalanche in the Monte Cristo area failed on facets near the ground.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

I don't like the record-warm temperatures. As you can see from the Ben Lomond snotel, the last decent refreeze was the early morning of February 2nd. Even though temperatures are starting to drop, the snowpack remains damp to wet and - in many areas - unsupportable. Wet avalanches may occur on all aspects but primarily I view the shady aspects to be most suspect.

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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