The avalanche danger is MODERATE with Pockets of CONSIDERABLE on the steep, northwest through northeasterly facing slopes above about 8,500’, where there is weak, faceted snow from October and early November near the ground. Dangerous, human triggered avalanches are possible in this terrain. Also avoid any steep slope with new drifts of windblown snow, which will be found both along the higher ridgelines and well down into the mid elevation terrain on a variety of aspects.

Safer terrain does exist - slopes less steep than about 33 degrees that are not connected to steeper slopes directly above or to the sides, and slopes without the layer of buried facets – generally those at mid and lower elevations and those facing the south ½ of the compass.

After a warm night under a southerly flow, temperatures finally cooled when the snow started falling again in the mountains. About an inch of snow has fallen in the Ogden mountians overnight, and temperatures are in the upper 20s. The southerly winds are currently in the 5 to 10 mph range, with the highest peaks averaging 20 - 25 mph.

The snow is slowly adding up and coverage improving, but don’t put away the rock boards yet! The small heavily rimed crystals are making bouncy turning and riding conditions.

The Cottonwoods were the center of avalanche activity yesterday, with 2 skier triggered slides. A smaller one on the Patsy Marley Ridge above Grizzly Gulch that broke near the ground, but did not catch the skier, and a very close call on north facing Pioneer Ridge, with a skier going for a ride after a 2-3 foot deep by 200’ wide slide broke above him. Facets were the culprit in both these incidents. There was also a snow cat triggered slide on an 11,000’ NE facing slope, 2 feet deep by 150’ wide, and a possible pocket “to the ground” on a northerly facing slope in upper Silver Fork.

Details can be found on the avalanche list, at Current Conditions – Avalanche List.

No new observations from the Ogden area mountains.

A weak disturbance will bring several more hours of snow this morning, with an additional 1 to 3” possible. Temperatures will warm to near 30 at 8,000’ and in the low 20s at 10,000’. The southwesterly wind speeds should remain less than yesterday – generally in the 5 to 15 mph range, with gusts below 25. The highest terrain could see wind gusts increase to near 40 mph at times. Tonight, skies will become partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping into the teens. High pressure will finally gain control tomorrow, and temperatures will warm Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a weak, splitting storm Thursday night into Friday.

If you trigger an avalanche in the backcountry - especially if you are adjacent to a ski area – please call the following teams to alert them to the slide and whether anyone is missing or not. Rescue teams can be exposed to significant hazard when responding to avalanches, and do not want to do so when unneeded. Thanks.

Salt Lake – Alta Central (801-742-2033)

Ogden – Snowbasin Patrol Dispatch (801-620-1017)

Provo – Sundance Patrol Dispatch (801-223-4150)

Dawn Patrol Forecast Hotline, updated by 05:30: 888-999-4019 option 8.

Daily observations are frequently posted by 10 pm each evening.

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UDOT canyon closures UDOT at (801) 975-4838

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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.

We will update this forecast tomorrow morning. Thanks for calling.