Avalanche forecast

Logan

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Highlights

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today and could possibly rise to HIGH later today or overnight tonight. Heavy snowfall and wind will overload many slopes on all aspects and elevations with pre-existing weak, faceted surface snow, and human-triggered and natural avalanches will become more likely as the storm progresses. Watch for and avoid steep slopes with freshly wind-drifted snow. Soft storm slabs will become increasingly sensitive throughout the day.

  • People should avoid all travel in avalanche terrain and stay well clear of avalanche runouts. This means you should stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
  • You'll find safer riding conditions on slopes less than 30 degrees.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    New snow storm slabs will become increasingly easier to trigger throughout the day and may start to occur naturally as more snow accumulates. Before this weekend, the Logan area mountain developed a widespread layer of weak surface snow. We expect this layer to be very sensitive today as the load increases. You may also see dry loose avalanches in very steep terrain. ​

    • The higher you go today, the deeper these avalanches will be, as more snow accumulation is expected at higher elevations.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Avalanches of wind-drifted snow will become more likely as accumulating new snow is transported by intensifying westerly winds into upper and mid-elevation avalanche start zones. Avoid traveling on or beneath steep, drifted slopes. The avalanche danger will rise throughout the day, with both human-triggered and natural wind slab avalanches becoming increasingly likely as the new snow overloads pre-existing weak surface snow.

    • Watch for shooting cracks, a clear sign of instability, and be aware that some wind slab avalanches may be triggered remotely.
    • Avoid rounded pillows of snow that sound or feel hollow underfoot.
    • Wind slabs are generally much stiffer than the surrounding snow.

    A dormant, persistent weak layer near the ground is still a potential problem in extreme mountain terrain and on outlying rocky, windswept slopes with thin snow cover. Isolated hard slab avalanches might be triggered from a "sweet spot" or a shallower part of the slab. Check out Paige's recent blog about persistent weak layer avalanches HERE.

Recent Activity

  • Read about all avalanches and observations in the Logan Zone HERE.
  • *Remember, the information you share about avalanches you see or trigger in the backcountry could save lives.

Avalanche Warning

What: The avalanche danger for the warning area will rise to HIGH this afternoon or tonight.

When: The avalanche danger will rise to HIGH later today or tonight, and very dangerous avalanche conditions are expected to continue through the weekend.

Where: For the mountains of Northern Utah and Southeast Idaho, including the northern Wasatch Range and the Bear River Range.

Impacts: Heavy snow and drifting by strong winds will overload widespread preexisting weak snow at all elevations and elevate avalanche danger. Dangerous human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely. People should avoid all travel in avalanche terrain and stay well clear of avalanche runouts. This means you should stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

Special Announcement

Urgent battery replacement is required for anyone who received batteries from one of our participating "Batteries for Beacons" shops. Please review the replacement notice for "Batteries for Beacons" on our blog, HERE. Batteries distributed through our "Batteries for Beacons" program this year are of inadequate length. We apologize and will provide you with new batteries.

Snow and Weather

What a difference a day makes! It's currently snowing, and the mountains have picked up about .7" of SWE, about 4 to 5 inches of snow. Not Utah's classic light, fluffy powder, but rather snow with some body. This denser snow is landing on widespread weak surface snow that developed over the past week of clear, cold nights. Expect soft storm and wind slabs to release easily today in steep terrain. We are expecting heavy snowfall and strong winds throughout the rest of the weekend, with the potential to reach HIGH danger later today or overnight tonight. You'll find good powder riding conditions on slopes less than 30 degrees in shaded, sheltered terrain that doesn't harbor as nasty of an old melt-freeze crust underneath as sunny aspects. Conditions should get better and better as we accumulate more snow.

-The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet reports 28° F, with 56 inches of total snow. At our Card Canyon weather station at 8800 feet, it's 24° F and there is 42 inches of total snow.

-At the CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700 feet, winds are blowing from the west 25 to 35 mph, and it's 21° F.

- On Paris Peak, at 9500 feet, it is 18° F, and the winds are blowing from the south-southwest 15 to 23 mph.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Logan area mountains through Sunday evening. Heavy snow is expected through the weekend with up to 3 feet of accumulation in the Naomi Peak Area. Expect very stormy conditions today in the mountains with heavy snowfall and winds blowing from the west 15 to 20 mph, gusting into the 30's mph. The 8500' high temperature will be about 30°F. Expect the same for tomorrow, but with stronger winds and warmer temperatures.

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

We found widespread weak snow on and near the snow surface in the Tony Grove Area Wednesday. The current storm is overloading this poor structure and both human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely.

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.

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