Avalanche forecast

Logan

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Highlights

The danger is CONSIDERABLE on upper and mid-elevation slopes steeper than 30°. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist, natural avalanches are possible, and people are likely to trigger slab avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer buried 1 to 3 feet deep. Avalanches of wind drifted snow are most likely on upper elevation slopes facing northwest through southeast, where soft, freshly formed wind slabs of new snow and hard, older wind slabs are problems.

  • Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making are essential for safe backcountry travel today.
  • Avoid travel on or under steep drifted slopes and ridge-top cornices.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    3

    The Logan area mountains developed a widespread layer of weak and sugary surface snow in late January. In sunny terrain, weak layers formed under and above crusts or formed crust/facet sandwiches. Drifting and recent accumulations built thick slabs on the layers of weak faceted snow, and now many slopes are plagued by a persistent weak layer buried 1 to 3 feet deep. Today, people are likely to trigger dangerous slab avalanches failing on this persistent weak layer, possibly even in sheltered terrain.

    • Avalanches could be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below.
    • Audible collapses of whumpfs and shooting cracks are sure signs of instability.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    We advise staying clear of steep, wind-drifted slopes today. Yesterday and overnight, moderate winds out of the west found plenty of easily transportable snow to drift. Several inches of light snow fell yesterday, and there was already several inches of soft snow from late last week capping the stout crust on the snow surface during the warmth earlier in the week. Today, human-triggered soft slab avalanches of drifted new snow and harder wind slab avalanches of older snow failing on a buried persistent weak layer are likely.

    • Wind slabs are most likely to be found on the lee side of major ridges and corniced slopes facing northwest through southeast. They were also formed by cross-loading in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, and cliff bands.
    • Avoid rounded pillows of snow that sound or feel hollow underfoot. Wind slabs are generally much stiffer than the surrounding snow, but today may be hidden by a few inches of fresh powder.
    • Hard wind slabs sometimes allow a person to get well out on them before suddenly releasing. Softer wind slabs of yesterday's storm snow, 1 to 2 feet deep, could be pretty sensitive and easy for a person to trigger.

Special Announcement

We are deeply saddened to report an avalanche fatality in East Bowl of Silverfork in the Salt Lake Area Mountains that happened yesterday. Details are still limited, but UAC staff will visit the site today. We will provide a full accident report in the coming days.

Recent Activity

  • A rider was caught, carried, and buried in the Franklin Basin Area on Friday. The buried rider, with only a hand and a bit of their deployed airbag sticking out of the snow, was found and rescued by a companion. Report is HERE. (we hope to get more details and visit the site today)
  • Natural wind slab avalanches 1 to 3 feet deep from last weekend's storm were observed on many drifted easterly facing slopes across the zone.
  • Numerous red flags of instability were reported last week by observers, including long shooting cracks and extensive whumpfs.

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.

Snow and Weather

Upper elevation terrain in the Central Bear River Range picked up several more inches of new snow yesterday on top of about a foot of mostly graupel from Wednesday and Friday. The fresh snow came in on a dirty melt/freeze-crust from the heat and rain earlier last week and greatly improved riding conditions. We've found nice, fast, shallow powder or graupel-on-crust riding conditions, especially on sheltered low angled slopes. Of course, the higher you go, the deeper the new snow.

Avalanche conditions remain dangerous in drifted terrain, especially at upper elevations on slopes facing northwest through southeast. Hard wind slab avalanches failing on a sugary, persistent weak layer buried 2 to 3 feet deep are likely, and softer wind slabs from yesterday's accumulations could be quite sensitive. Low-elevation slopes facing the south half of the compass were bare of snow or had only very shallow snow cover before a few inches of new snow fell on them yesterday. -The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet reports 6 inches of new snow with .3" SWE from yesterday. It's 12° F, with 74 inches of total snow. At our Card Canyon weather station at 8800 feet, it's 7° F, and there is about 5 inches of new snow, with 53 inches total.

-At the CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700 feet, winds are blowing from the west 18 to 26 mph, it's 4° F, and the wind chill is -15° F. On Paris Peak, at 9500 feet, it is 4° F, and the winds are blowing from the west-southwest 12 to 18 mph creating a -12° F wind chill value.

NWS point forecast for the Naomi Peak area: Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 20° F. Wind chill values as low as -15° F. West wind 7 to 11 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 4° F. Wind chill values as low as -5° F. West wind 6 to 9 mph. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 21° F. Wind chill values as low as -6° F. West wind 6 to 10 mph. Partly sunny skies, calmer winds, cooler temperatures, and periods of light snow are in store for the first part of next week, with the next significant snowfall expected Thursday night and Friday.

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 is a look at the site of yesterday's tragic fatal avalanche accident in the East Bowl of Silverfork.

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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