Avalanche forecast

Logan

Issued Mar 5, 2026valid to Mar 6, 2026Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Heightened and complex avalanche conditions exist in mid and upper elevation terrain, and there's little or no snow down low. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on drifted upper elevation slopes, and developing fresh wind slabs will elevate the avalanche danger on slopes steeper than 30 degrees during the day.

Make conservative choices and evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.

Avalanche problems

Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
4
Avalanche conditions are dangerous in the backcountry. A widespread, persistent weak layer is buried 2 to 3 feet deep on mid and upper-elevation slopes facing the northern half of the compass. Any avalanche that breaks into this layer will be large, destructive, and dangerous.

Hard slab avalanches are becoming stubborn and difficult to trigger, but as we saw over the weekend, they require only hitting the right trigger point. A rider or a snowmobile traveling uphill, across the slope, or downhill—especially across a thin or shallow spot in the slab—could cause it to fail.

Avalanches that fail on a buried persistent weak layer can propagate widely and may be triggered remotely, or worse, from below.
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Likely
Size
2
People are likely to trigger shallow soft slab avalanches of wind-drifted storm snow today, as new snow is drifted onto steep slopes and fresh wind slabs are developing.

Soft wind slabs can be very sensitive, sometimes occurring when you're approaching. Hard slabs can be trickier; sometimes, allowing a person to get well out on them before suddenly releasing.

Watch for and avoid smooth, rounded, drum-like drifts near ridgelines, sub-ridges, rock outcrops, gully walls, and rollovers. Collapsing and shooting cracks indicate instability—but may not always be present.

Avalanches of wind-drifted snow could step down into the January persistent weak layer and be large and dangerous.

A small avalanche running over a slope with poor snow structure could cause a larger, more dangerous hard slab avalanche to fail on a persistent weak layer buried up to three feet deep.

Recent Activity

In the Wasatch Mountains, avalanches have killed four people recently in separate accidents. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the affected family, friends, rescuers, and community members. Thank you to everyone involved for sharing information.

In the Logan Zone; there were numerous natural wet and small wind slab avalanches during and after Monday's warm and wet storm.

Over the weekend, riders triggered large, dangerous hard slab avalanches. An observer's crew came across and searched a freshly triggered avalanche on Friday, February 27, near the Naomi Trail on an east-facing slope around 8900'. On Sunday, March 1, a rider was caught and carried, and their sled rolled by a 3-foot deep and 50-foot wide hard slab avalanche under a cliff band on a north-facing slope at around 8700 feet in elevation. The video below, submitted by local riders, includes actual images from both avalanches:

Huge thanks to the riders that shared information, photos, and videos. This information may well save lives.... For all observations and avalanche activity in the Logan Zone, go HERE.

Snow and Weather

There is very little snow left below about 7000 feet, but in higher elevations, avalanche conditions are complex and dangerous, especially on slopes facing northwest through southeast. People are likely to trigger shallow wind slab avalanches today on drifted upper elevation slopes steeper than 30 degrees, and there's still a possibility on many slopes of dangerous hard slab avalanches that can propagate widely on a widespread, persistent weak layer buried two to three feet deep.

Colder temperatures with today's storm will produce lighter powder and improve riding conditions, but increasing, gusty winds from the west will rapidly build shallow, sensitive wind slabs, and continue to build a slab layer overloading slopes plagued by fragile, buried persistent weak layers. Our conservative plan for today includes riding in low-angle terrain and in the meadows, off and well out from under steep hills.

The UAC Card Canyon weather station at 8700 feet reports 17°F, with 3 inches of new snow and 64 inches of total snow. The Tony Grove Snotel, located at 8400 feet, reports 4 inches of light new snow, containing 0.2 inches of SWE (snow water equivalent). It's 21°F, and there's 76 inches of total snow. At 9700 feet on Logan Peak, winds are blowing from the west at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts close to 40 mph. It's 14°F on Paris Peak at 9500 feet, and the wind, from the west-southwest, is blowing 10 to 20 mph.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Bear River Mountains through tomorrow. This morning's radar shows precipitation moving across Idaho and filling in from the northwest. Snowfall could be heavy at times today, with 5 to 9 inches of accumulation possible in upper-elevation terrain in the Northern Bear River Range and 3 to 7 expected south of the state line. High temperatures at 8500 feet will be near 27°F, and winds will blow from the west around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Tapering snowfall is expected tonight, with a few more inches of accumulation possible, and the wind will come around from the north and increase a bit. Tomorrow, we expect snow showers and clouds to gradually clear, and partly sunny conditions to develop, with relentless winds continuing to blow from the northwest. Fair weather is expected in the mountains this weekend.

Additional Info

Travel with a partner, and cross or ride slopes steeper than 30 degrees one at a time while the rest of your group watches from a safe spot.
Ensure that everyone in the group has avalanche rescue equipment (a transceiver, probe, and shovel) and knows how to use it.

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With complex and dangerous avalanche conditions across the Bear River Mountains, your safest choice is still to stay off and away from steep hills. If you choose to travel in avalanche terrain, follow safe travel protocols by exposing only one person at a time. The video below is about last Friday's Naomi Trail Avalanche.

Join the UAC for the first "Stay and Play Avalanche Course" at Bear River Lodge in the Uintas, March 19th-22nd. This course is designed for snowmobilers by snowmobilers, where you will learn avalanche rescue, riding skills, and how to survive in the backcountry. Come enjoy all the luxury offerings at Bear River Lodge and improve your skills along the way.

For all questions on forecasts, education, Know Before You Go, events, online purchases, or fundraising, call 801-365-5522.

Did you know the UAC hosts a podcast? Episode 2 of Season IX is just out - AI, Machine Learning, and the Value of Expert Intuition at the Utah Avalanche Center.

Are you interested in learning more about avalanches? Visit our education page for details on all our classes.

For more information, visit the UAC weather page here: UAC Weather Page For Logan-specific weather, go here: Logan Mountain Weather

-Remember, the information you provide could save lives, especially if you see or trigger an avalanche. To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry, go HERE

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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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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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