Forecast: Ogden Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Issued by Dave Kelly on
Sunday morning, March 23, 2025

There is a MODERATE avalanche danger today where it will be possible for humans to trigger wind-drifted snow avalanches in steep (greater than 35°) mid and upper elevation terrain. Wet snow avalanches will be likely on east-south-west facing slopes and in low elevation northerly facing terrain.

Today's wet snow problem is matter of timing, avoid steep slopes during daytime warming.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Weather and Snow

Currently, under partly cloudy skies temperatures are in the high 20' to low 30's °F. Winds are blowing from the west in the teens gusting to the 30's MPH at the lower ridgelines and from the west-northwest in the 20's gusting to the 30's MPH at the highest ridgelines. Storm totals range from 2"-4" of snow with .20"-.45" of snow water equivalent (SWE). The new snow that fell was mostly graupel and rimed precipitation particles and it made for a great refresh with the wind helping to fill in old tracks in the backcountry.

Today, look for partly cloudy skies with increasing sun this afternoon. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 40's °F. Winds are forecast to blow from the west 10 gusting to 15 MPH at the 8,000' ridgelines and from the northwest 20 gusting to 30 MPH at the 9,000' ridgelines. Wind speeds should decrease through the morning.

Recent Avalanches

Yesterday, there were no backcountry avalanches reported to the Utah Avalanche Center from the Ogden Region.

You can check out all recent observations and avalanches HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The danger will rise today and may reach CONSIDERABLE for wet snow avalanches, which are likely to occur on easterly, southerly, and westerly facing slopes and on low elevation north facing slopes. This problem can be managed with timing. Get off of steep slopes as the day warms up. Steep gully features and rocky terrain are likely places to see wet snow avalanches.

The likelihood for wet snow avalanches will increase today, and you are likely to see natural wet snow avalanches on steep south and west facing terrain this afternoon.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Expect to see drifts of wind-blown snow on the downwind side of ridgelines and terrain features. The wind-drifted snow has created soft and sensitives cornices on the ridgelines and these cornices may break further back than you expect and trigger soft slab avalanches below them.

Mountain winds can be swirly and often load steep slopes at all aspects in the mid and upper elevation terrain band regardless of wind direction. Today, these wind drifts will be more stubborn and allow you to get further onto the slope before potentially breaking above you. This is a bigger concern in extreme no-fall terrain such as hanging snowfields and exposed gully features.

Check out Derek's Observation from Rodeo Ridge, where he mentions wind-loading as the red flag for yesterday.

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.

Observations and Avalanches

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