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Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Dave Kelly
Issued by Dave Kelly on
Sunday morning, March 9, 2025
The avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE on all southerly facing terrain and on lower elevation northerly facing terrain where we will see wet snow avalanches with daytime warming. This wet snow problem is a matter of timing, with the danger of these avalanches rising throughout the day. The avalanche danger is MODERATE on all other aspects where Normal Caution for traveling in avalanche terrain is recommended.
Start early and get off of slopes in the sun as they start to heat up.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
We come to you with heavy hearts and great sadness this morning to confirm an avalanche accident on Friday, March 7th near Hoyt Peak, involving 51-year-old Micheal Janulaitis from Marion, Utah. Micheal was caught, carried, and killed in an avalanche while skiing a steep, northeast facing run in Hoyt Bowl. Huge thanks to the Department of Public Safety, Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Village Snow Safety and Ski Patrol teams, along with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue for the hard work recovering Micheal and returning him to his family. Micheal was a friend of Utah Avy and we feel privileged for the time we got to spend together. This is a tremendous loss for our backcountry family and we will miss him deeply. We are compiling accident details and a preliminary report can be found HERE.
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Weather and Snow
Currently, under clear skies temperatures are in the high 20's °F. Winds are blowing lightly from the southeast at the lower elevations and from the west in the teen's gusting to the 20's MPH at the highest ridgelines.
Today, look for clear skies and temperatures from 42-48 °F. Winds will be light at the lower elevations and in the teens gusting to the 20's blowing from the west at the higher elevations.

Yesterday's warm temperatures cooked the snow on south-west facing aspects and expect to find a melt-freeze crust on the surface that will turn to mush very quickly with daytime heating. Lower angle north facing slopes above 8,000' are still holding soft snow.
Recent Avalanches
Yesterday, there were reports of wet slab and wet loose avalanches on northwest facing slopes above the City of Ogden.
Check out all avalanches and observations HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Today, expect to see wet snow avalanches. These will likely start early afternoon on steep southerly facing slopes at all elevations and westerly facing slopes later in the afternoon. You may also find wet avalanches in low elevation northerly facing terrain. These avalanches can be managed with timing. Get off of steep slopes in the sun as they begin to warm up where the danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE and natural wet avalanches will be possible.
Roof slides are possible this afternoon. Pay close attention to children playing or shovelers near roof lines as things heat up this afternoon and roofs start to shed their most recent storm snow.
Photo (D. DeBruin) of wet avalanches in Taylor Canyon.
Avalanche Problem #2
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
With last week's storm finishing with elevated wind speeds, you may find shallow wind-drifts on all aspects near ridgelines. Normal Caution is advised for traveling on steep slopes in the Ogden Region. Check your rescue equipment and only expose one traveler at a time to avalanche terrain.
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.