Avalanche forecast

Logan

Issued Dec 17, 2025valid to Dec 18, 2025Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche danger

Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline

Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Heavy snow and drifting by strong winds today will elevate the avalanche danger to MODERATE on slopes steeper than 30 degrees at upper and mid elevations. The risk of people triggering shallow wind slab avalanches will rise and become more widespread throughout the day. More dangerous avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer buried up to 2 feet deep remain possible at upper elevations on isolated drifted slopes.

Slopes below 7000 feet are bare of snow or have only very shallow snow cover.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.

Avalanche problems

Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Possible
Size
1
As heavy snow accumulates and is drifted onto steep slopes by strong winds from the west-northwest, the avalanche danger will become elevated, and people could trigger soft slab avalanches of wind-drifted snow.

Even small avalanches can have serious consequences in shallow snow conditions, as you might be dragged through the rocks or downed trees below.

Follow safe travel protocols: travel with a partner, cross (or ride) steep slopes one person at a time while the rest of your party watches from a safe place.
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alpine
Treeline
Below treeline
Likelihood
Unlikely
Size
3
Beneath the thick surface crust in the Central and Northern Bear River Range, weak, faceted snow from November is buried under heavy, dense snow one to two feet deep. We have limited information from the Logan Peak and Wellsville Range areas due to access issues, and in isolated previously drifted areas where the rain crust is thinner or not present, human-triggered avalanches remain possible and could propagate widely across a slope.

Collapsing, indicated by shooting cracks or whumpfs, is a significant red flag of unstable snow.

Remotely triggered avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer are possible.

Additional Info

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

-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 Announcement

Our Holiday Auction closes Dec 16th! Check it out now to gear up for winter while supporting avalanche forecasting, awareness, and education across the state!

I will be talking about assessing snow stability and lessons learned from last season's avalanche involvements at a "Tour Talk" at Prodigy Brewing in downtown Logan on Wednesday, December 17.

Recent Activity

No new avalanches have been reported since last week. For all observations and avalanche activity in the Logan Zone, go HERE

Snow and Weather

Rain turned to snow early this morning in the mountains above about 7000 feet in elevation. On Logan Peak at 9700 feet, it's 31°F and increasing winds are currently blowing from the southwest 42 mph, and gusting to 66 mph. Temperatures have dropped to 33° F at the Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet, reporting an inch of new snow and 24 inches of total snow. At 9500 feet on Paris Peak, it's a cool 26°F with 25 to 42 mph winds blowing from the southwest.

As heavy snow is falling at upper elevations, drifting by strong winds will create thick wind slabs, often well below ridgelines. The process is called preferential deposition, and it can deposit thick wind slabs low on slopes and in mid-slope terrain features, where we normally might not expect to encounter wind slab issues. The new snow is falling on a widespread thick and hard rain crust that caps the dense snow from the December 5/6 storm, and it's all overlaying a sugary, persistent weak layer near the ground. The hard crust is 4 to 6 inches thick, but you sink right through it in boots, and through the sugary November snow below it to the ground. In most areas, we think the thick crust will hold the snowpack together on most slopes for at least a few loading events.

It will snow today, with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible at upper elevations and temperatures dropping to around 22° F. It will be quite windy in the mountains with strong winds gusting from the southwest this morning, but veering from the west-northwest during the day. A wintry weather pattern is expected to continue through the latter half of the week, with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible tomorrow. More snow is expected at upper elevations with another wave of storminess Friday night and Saturday.

General Announcements

CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ

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

Backcountry Emergency Procedures