Avalanche forecast

Logan

Utah Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

There is MODERATE danger and heightened avalanche conditions exist on many steep slopes in the backcountry. People could trigger large avalanches failing 2 to 4 feet deep on a buried persistent weak layer near the ground, and there are still areas of CONSIDERABLE danger on previously drifted upper elevation slopes facing north and east. Solar warming will cause elevated loose wet avalanche conditions on sunny slopes.

  • Expect unstable snow conditions, even if obvious signs of instability are absent.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and make conservative decisions.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    Buried persistent weak layers consisting of sugary faceted snow are widespread across the Logan Zone, and the threat of large and deadly avalanches failing on weak snow near the ground remains quite real. People could trigger a large deep slab avalanche from a thinner part of the slab, and slopes with thin snow cover and therefore a thinner slab are more likely for people to trigger....

    • Avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer might be triggered remotely, from a distance, or worse from below!
    • Cracking and collapsing of the snow are a red flag, indicating unstable snow conditions.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Avalanches of previously wind drifted snow are most likely on upper and mid elevation slopes facing northwest through southeast. Avalanches of wind drifted snow are likely where drifts formed during the weekend storm on steep slopes, especially on slopes with buried persistent weak layers. Steep rocky slopes at upper elevations, and mid elevation slopes with shallow overall snow cover (and a thinner slab) are the most suspect.

    • Watch for and avoid stiffer drifted snow near ridge tops and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, cliff bands, and sub ridges.
    • Wind slabs are often rounded and chalky looking, and they can sound and feel hollow and drum-like when you walk on them.
    • Stay well back from cornices as they can break much further back than you expect, and avalanches are possible on slopes below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Strong March sun will rapidly warm up the surface snow and cause it to become moist, sticky, and prone to avalanching. Loose wet avalanches entraining saturated surface snow are possible in steep sunny terrain again today.

    • Even a small avalanche could be enough to cause problems, especially on steep slopes with trees or other terrain traps below.
    • Smaller wet avalanches overrunning a slope with buried persistent weak layers could step down into older snow near the ground and cause a much larger and more destructive avalanche.

Recent Activity

A rider remotely triggered an avalanche on a drifted slope somewhere in the Elk Valley Area Sunday (2-28-2021), but details are a bit limited. A cool video of the avalanche was posted on Twitter HERE.

A few recent natural avalanches, scattered across the zone, were reported with clearing after the weekend storm.

Special Announcement

Allen Foss of Preston, ID was killed in an avalanche Saturday, February 20, near Sherman Peak. Please consider supporting the Foss family during this difficult time.

Snow and Weather

It's 27°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, and there is 77 inches of total snow and 84% of normal SWE. Winds from the south are blowing 20 mph at the CSI Logan Peak weather station. A sun-crust on sunny slopes will limit blowing snow today, but there was a good deal of drifting of the new snow from mostly westerly winds during the weekend storm. We're expecting sunny and warm conditions in the mountains again today, and continuing fair weather heading into the weekend. Temperatures at 8500' will top out at around 37°F today, and moderate south-southwest winds will probably help ventilate those sunny slopes a bit. We're expecting fair weather to continue through the work week and into the weekend. There is a chance of some snow showers on Saturday. In some places, outlying rocky slopes that did not naturally avalanche in February, and areas with thin snow cover, large and dangerous avalanches still might be triggered remotely, or from a distance. Weak, sugary, faceted snow is widespread near the ground across the zone, but it appears to be dormant in most areas currently. I went into the backcountry near Beaver Mountain yesterday to have a look at the snow, and this is what I found....

Additional Info

Do you have the essential avalanche rescue gear (transceiver, probe, and shovel) and do you know how to use them? Watch this video to see how the three pieces of equipment work together. HERE

Please keep practicing with the Beacon Training Park at the Franklin Basin Trailhead. Test yourself and your riding partners. It is free, fun, and easy to use.

General Announcements

Visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.

EMAIL ADVISORY. If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you subscribe HERE.

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations....HERE. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clickingHERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

I will update this forecast by around 7:30 tomorrow morning.

This forecast is from the USDA Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Regions covered