Ogden area mountains: There are pockets of HIGH danger in the northern parts of the Ogden areas mountains which have received more snow and wind at the upper elevations. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all steep, wind drifted slopes. These fresh drifts will be most widespread on northeast through southeast facing slopes. CONSIDERABLE means natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are likely. Out of the wind drifted terrain, other steep slopes at low, mid and high elevations have a MODERATE danger, for both new snow slides and isolated places where a person could trigger a deep, dangerous slide, failing on weak layers near the ground.

I hope the New Year bring everyone Peace, Health and Hope. The first day of 2010 will certainly be a contrast to yesterday. Clouds quickly obscured the blue moon last night, and temperatures jumped 10 to 15 degrees, with most stations in the low to upper 20’s this morning. The southwesterly winds increased yesterday afternoon and blew through most of the night, with many stations averages 20 to 30 mph, gusting into the 40 and 50’s. Speeds decreased this morning, and currently averages are 20 mph or less. The early morning band of snow moving across northerly Utah has favored the Logan and Odgen mountains with close to ½ inch of snow water equivalent, with light snow just starting in the mountains south of I-80. The new snow is falling on wind slabs, thin sun crusts and low density snow, where I expect “upside down”, inverted conditions.

One sizable skier triggered sluff was reported from 8,700’ yesterday, involving new and old, loose faceted snow, in Mill Creek, and explosive work on the Park City ridgeline brought out one soft slab and one hard slab, all on northeasterly facing slopes. A damp soft slab was also triggered with afternoon heating on west.

A weak shortwave is passing through the area this morning ahead of the main trough, which will cross northern Utah tonight. Light snowfall will continue today into early afternoon, when a short break should occur. Snow amounts are forecast to be in the 2 to 5” range, of about 10% density. Temperatures will continue to warm, with highs today near 30 at 8,000’ and in the mid 20’s at 10,000’. The westerly winds will average 10 to 20 mph, with the high ridges averaging 20 to 30 mph, and gusting to 50. An additional 3 to 7 inches of dense snow is forecast to fall overnight and Saturday, with the winds increasing once again Saturday morning. High pressure will build in for Sunday and Monday.

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For the Wasatch Powderbird Guides schedule go to their blog

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The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Bruce Tremper will update this forecast on Saturday morning. Thanks for calling.