Avalanche forecast

Logan

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Highlights

There is CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger, and people are likely to trigger dangerous avalanches on a persistent weak layer buried up to 3 feet deep, especially on previously drifted upper-elevation slopes facing northwest through southeast. Loose wet avalanches are possible during the day's heat on sunny and low-elevation slopes, especially on those that picked up significant new snow accumulations yesterday.

Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making are essential for safe backcountry travel today.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    3

    Large and dangerous avalanches stepping down into older snow on one of several buried persistent weak layers are possible, especially in areas with shallower snow and poor snow structure. Sugary weak layers exist on slopes facing every direction, not just the northern half of the compass like we saw earlier in the season. One suspect layer is found right on top of a dirty melt-freeze crust from the warm spell at the beginning of February; others consist of crust-facet sandwiches. People could trigger dangerous cornice falls and avalanches of previously drifted snow on many upper and mid-elevation slopes, but the danger is most acute on upper-elevation slopes facing northwest through southeast.

    • Although most prevalent on the lee side of major ridges, stiff slabs of previously wind-drifted snow exist on all aspects in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and cliff bands.
    • Audible collapses (whumpfs) and shooting cracks are sure signs of instability, but these may not be present when avalanches occur.
    • Avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer might be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below steep slopes.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Wet avalanches are possible in sunny terrain and on lower-elevation slopes in the day's heat. People should stay out from under steep slopes as the fresh snow warms and gets sticky or saturated. Natural wet avalanches are possible in areas where people may not expect avalanches, like where you might walk the dog, throw a fly, or build a snowman.

Recent Activity

An observer reported very active avalanche conditions in the Bloomington Canyon area, with several natural and intentionally triggered avalanches on Monday and Tuesday, including a large natural that occurred when the party was in the vicinity Tuesday morning. HERE

Read about all avalanches and observations in the Logan Zone HERE.

Snow and Weather

The Logan area mountains picked up a few feet of snow in the last week, with the Tony Grove Snotel reporting over 7 inches of SWE (snow water equivalent) since Valentine's Day! Yesterday's storm left highly varied amounts of accumulation across the Logan Zone. it appears to have favored Cache Valley and the front side canyons, with close to a foot of new snow on the eastern foothills. One observer found 8 to 10 inches of new snow near Logan Peak yesterday, while the Tony Grove Snotel only reported 2 inches.

The avalanche danger remains complex; dangerous in high drifted terrain, tons of recent new snow, great spatial variation in new snow quantities, and at the same time, apparently stable snow and great powder riding in many areas. Safe terrain choices remain the best bet, so our plan is to stay on slopes less than 30° in slope steepness and out from under steep slopes where we suspect avalanches could occur. You'll find excellent, DEEP powder riding conditions in the meadows, at lower elevations, and in safer low-angle terrain.

-The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet reports17° F, with 98 inches of total snow. (118% of normal) The Card Canyon weather station at 8800 feet reports 5 inches of new snow from yesterday's storm. It's 15° F, with 72 inches of total snow.

-Winds at 9700 feet on Logan Peak are blowing 11-17 mph from the north-northwest, and it's 13° F. At 9500 feet on Paris Peak it's also 13° F, with winds blowing 5 to 10 mph from the north-northeast.

Today will be sunny with 8500' high temperatures around 29° F,and 5 to 8 mph winds from the west. It looks like fair weather again tomorrow, with partly sunny skies and temperatures warming to around 32° F and 6 to 8 mph winds from the west-southwest. We are concerned that the nice weather may influence people to make poor terrain choices.

Light snow is expected Sunday and into the first part of next week, with sunny skies and a warming trend expected beginning midweek.

Thank you for reading our forecasts before heading out into the backcountry - we've had four avalanche fatalities this season and do not want anyone else to die in an avalanche.

For more information, visit the UAC weather page here: Weather - Utah Avalanche Center

For Logan-specific weather, go here: Logan Mountain Weather - Utah Avalanche Center

Additional Info

This natural avalanche in the Bloomington Canyon area occurred Tuesday morning while the reporting party was recreating nearby. The avalanche stepped down to the dusty, early February crust.

General Announcements

-National Forest Winter Recreation Travel Maps show where it's open to ride: UWCNF Logan, Ogden LRD Tony Grove, Franklin Basin CTNF Montpelier

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

-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.

-Receive forecast region-specific text message alerts to receive messages about changing avalanche conditions, watches, and warnings. Sign up and update your preferences HERE.

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.

Special Avalanche Bulletin

A series of storms in the last week has left a thick blanket of snow at all elevations, creating excellent powder riding conditions while also elevating the backcountry avalanche danger. Don't let the fresh snow and sunshine influence your decision-making - avalanche conditions remain dangerous, people need to make conservative choices, and careful snowpack and terrain analysis are required for backcountry travel. Fortunately, there are great powder riding conditions away from avalanche terrain in the meadows and on safer slopes less than 30° in steepness.

Special Announcement

Help the University of Utah understand risk behavior in the backcountry by participating in a 15-minute survey. The U will compensate up to $30 for your time! Please note: responses will not be confidential but will be handled ethically under IRB guidelines.

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