Avalanche forecast

Logan

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Highlights

Elevated avalanche conditions exist, with MODERATE danger on drifted upper and mid-elevation slopes steeper than 30°. People could trigger dangerous wind-slab avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer buried 2 to 3 feet deep.

Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and avoid travel on or under steep drifted slopes and ridge-top cornices.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    Strong winds drifted snow into avalanche-starting zones, overloading many slopes with dense snow. We advise staying clear of steep, wind-drifted slopes. Hard wind slabs are most likely to be found on the lee side of major ridges and on corniced slopes, but they were also formed by cross-loading in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, and cliff bands. Hard wind slabs sometimes allow a person to get well out on them before suddenly releasing. New, shallow, soft wind slabs of yesterday's storm snow around a foot deep could be pretty sensitive.

    • Avoid rounded pillows of snow that sound or feel hollow underfoot. Wind slabs are generally much stiffer than the surrounding snow.
    • Shooting cracks and collapsing or whumpfs are clear signs of instability.
    • Many wind slabs formed on weak faceted surface snow, now a buried persistent weak layer, and instability could last for a while.
    • Some wind slab avalanches might be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Before last weekend, the Logan area mountains developed a widespread layer of weak and sugary surface snow. Last weekend's storm overloaded the weak, sugary surface snow, and it is now a buried persistent weak layer. Drifting built slabs on the weak layer, but even in sheltered terrain, soft slabs of storm snow up to two feet deep will be possible to trigger.

Special Announcement

The Preliminary Report for Monday's Monte Cristo avalanche fatality is HERE. Our condolences go out to the victim's friends and family and all those affected by this tragic accident. UAC staff visited the site Tuesday and a full report is forthcoming.

Recent Activity

  • A natural wind slab avalanche from the weekend storm was observed yesterday on Chicken Hill in Bunch Grass
  • Large natural avalanches of wind-drifted snow were observed Monday in the Cornice Ridge area south of Naomi Peak. These were 1 to 3 feet deep and 100 to 250 feet wide.
  • We observed widespread natural wind slab avalanches in the Wellsville Range on Sunday. These were on generally east-facing slopes <9000 feet, and looked to be 1 to 3 feet deep and 150 to 800+ feet wide, with some running close to 2000 vertical feet.
  • Natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches occurred late Saturday night or early Sunday morning in Logan Canyon, with a few slides running out onto Highway 89.
  • Numerous red flags of instability were reported recently 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

Incessant winds from the southwest continue to blow, but at least mountain temperatures dipped well below freezing overnight. Upper elevation terrain in the Central Bear River Range picked up 5 or 6 inches of heavy snow (mostly graupel) yesterday. The new snow came in on a dirty melt/freeze-crust from the heat earlier in the week, and riding conditions are greatly improved. Yesterday, the saturated snow at mid and lower elevations was completely unsupportable, but much colder temperatures overnight probably hardened it.

Avalanche conditions remain elevated in drifted terrain, especially at upper elevations on slopes facing northwest through southeast. Heavy snow from the weekend storm and extensive drifting by strong winds from the southwest overloaded a widespread layer of pre-existing weak snow. Hard slab avalanches failing on a sugary, persistent weak layer buried 2 to 3 feet deep remain possible, and softer wind slabs, around a foot deep, from yesterday's accumulations could still be pretty sensitive today. Low-elevation slopes facing the south half of the compass are bare of snow or have only very shallow snow cover. -The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet reports 6 inches of graupel filled new snow with 1.3" SWE from yesterday. It's 20° F, with 68 inches of total snow. At our Card Canyon weather station at 8800 feet, it's 18° F, and there is about 3 inches of new snow, with 46 inches total.

-At the CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700 feet, winds are blowing from the south-southwest 27 to 37 mph at this hour, with overnight gusts of 42 mph, and it's 17° F. On Paris Peak, at 9500 feet, it is 26° F, and the winds are blowing from the southwest 17 to 24 mph, with gusts of 45 mph yesterday evening.

Expect increasing clouds today, with a high near 35° F. Southwest wind will blow around 9 mph. Snowfall will comence this afternoon, with total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible. Snow is expected tonight, with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible. Temperatures will hold steady around 31° F, and southwest winds will blow 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Snow could be heavy at times tomorrow, with 4 to 8 inches of accumulation possible. The wind will blow from the southwest 20 to 29 mph with gusts around 50 mph, and the temperature will climb to around 39° F.

It looks like partly sunny skies, calmer winds, and cold temperatures are in store for the weekend.

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 Monday's tragic fatal avalanche accident on Beer Hill in the Monte Cristo area.

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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