The snow is stable in the backcountry, and the avalanche danger is LOW.
While there is little soft snow available to drift, in steep terrain at upper elevations, people should watch for and avoid stiff drifts or wind slabs formed by redeposition on a widespread layer of weak surface snow consisting of near-surface facets or surface hoar. The surface snow continues to weaken, and small loose avalanches of sugary, faceted snow are increasingly possible on very steep slopes.
***Join us for a Backcountry 101 for snowmobilers on January 28 and 29. This life-saving course is designed for snowmobilers and snow bikers taking their first on-snow avalanche class or looking to refresh previous training. For more information and to sign up, click here.
There were no avalanches reported recently. For all observations and avalanche activity in the Logan Zone, go HERE.
Most sunny terrain will remain crusty, but some slopes will soften with today’s warmth. Sheltered, northerly slopes hold dry recrystallized snow or "loud powder". Very shallow snow cover in low and mid-elevation terrain makes for hazardous travel due to rocks, downed trees, and tip-snaring branches. We are tracking the surface snow as it transforms into surface hoar, near-surface facets, and crusts capped by recrystallized snow, all of which are likely become future persistent weak layers. We are finding extremely large surface hoar crystals in canyon bottoms, and the shallow snow at lower elevations is extremely weak and faceted.
*Paige discusses weak surface snow conditions in this video from Logan Dry Canyon.
At the UAC Card Canyon weather station at 8700 feet this morning, it's 19°F, and there is 42 inches of total snow. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet reports 24°F and 56 inches of total snow. At 9700 feet on Logan Peak, the wind is blowing 23 mph and gusting in the mid 30s from the west. It's 17°F on Paris Peak at 9500 feet, and the wind is blowing 27 to 32 mph from the west-southwest. It will be another nice day in the mountains, with sunny skies and temperatures at 8500 feet around 29°F. Expect a breeze blowing from the west, 6 to 10 mph with higher wind speeds along the highest ridges. Although there is little snow available for the wind to drift, redeposition onto steep slopes with weak surface snow could form unstable shallow wind slabs.
The strong high pressure will remain over the region through the work week, with a continued temperature inversion producing hazy and cold conditions in the valleys and fair, mild but gradually cooling conditions in the mountains. There's a chance for a modest amount of snow in the mountains of southern Utah this weekend. A cutoff low pressure system is forming off the coast of California, and it will slide by toward Colorado and Texas, staying mostly to the south of Utah. For the Logan Zone, other than a few clouds and cooler temperatures on Thursday and Friday, little change in the stagnant weather is expected.
Use safe travel practices: travel with a partner, and cross or ride steep slopes one at a time while the rest of your group watches from a safe spot.
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
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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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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.
