Logan

The snow is generally stable in the backcountry, and the avalanche danger is LOW on most slopes. However, areas with heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist in drifted upper-elevation terrain where people could trigger small avalanches of wind-drifted snow.

• Prepare for dangerously cold temperatures and adjust your plans accordingly.
• Evaluate snow and terrain carefully and practice safe travel protocols by only exposing one person at a time to avalanche risk.

• There were no recent avalanches reported locally. 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.

Be prepared for very cold temperatures again today. It's -11° F at the summit of Logan Peak this morning with a ridiculously cold -36° F wind chill. Plan accordingly and have extra layers, warm drinks, and a fire starter in case of an emergency. Frostbite and hypothermia are a real concern if you stop moving for too long.

This weekend's 4 to 6 inches of new snow is the lightest of the season and made for fun riding conditions. We observed some shallow, loose dry avalanches in very steep terrain and below cliffs involving just the top few inches of the new snow. Winds picked up again early this morning, and with light snow available for transport, the main avalanche problem today is recently drifted snow at upper elevations, where people could trigger small wind slab avalanches. The problem is most pronounced on the lee side major ridgelines and in and around terrain features, where winds deposited stiff drifts. Some drifts built up on preexisting weak surface snow and wind slab avalanches could be 1 to 2 feet thick.

Isolated deep slab avalanches, breaking 2 to 4 feet deep on a persistent weak layer near the ground, are unlikely, yet the consequences could be severe. The likelihood of triggering a persistent deep hard slab avalanche is very low, but we are still suspicious of slopes holding poor snowpack structure, mainly on the north half of the compass. Be cautious of rocky, windswept slopes at upper elevation, and areas with generally shallow snow cover, around 3 feet deep or less, are the most suspect.

-The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports -4° F, with an inch of new snow and 59 inches total (96% of normal SWE for the date).

-Winds are blowing from the north-northwest this morning at 9700' CSI weather station on Logan Peak at 17 mph with gusts of 32 mph, and it's -12° F, with a windchill of -36° F.

At our Card Canyon station, it's -8° F at 8800 feet, and there is 46 inches of snow total, with an inch of light new snow.

-On Paris Peak at 9500 feet in Bloomington Canyon, it is -12° F and the winds are blowing from the north-northeast at 15 to 23 mph. The windchill is -35° F.

Today will be another cold day in the mountains, with a forecast high of 7° F and winds from the north blowing 10 to 14 mph. At least it will be mostly sunny. Cold temperatures are the big story for the next couple of days before a gradual warmup toward the end of the week. Snow is possible over the weekend once again, perhaps starting on Friday afternoon.

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

Here are two profiles from Shorty's Cutoff in the Steep Hollow area of Franklin Basin from yesterday. The snow is hard and pretty deep. The basal weak layer of faceted snow from November and early December appears to be strengthening. The first profile was done by hand, by digging and examining the layers. The second was produced by the Snow Scope probe produced by Propagation Labs.

-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.