Avalanche forecast

Logan

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Highlights

MODERATE: Heightened avalanche conditions exist, with human triggered avalanches of wind drifted new snow possible on some upper elevation slopes, up to about a foot deep. Wet avalanches are possible at lower elevations, and if the sun pops out it will initially warm this week's fresh snow, and this could cause wet avalanche danger to increase rapidly on many slopes.

Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Heightened avalanche conditions exist on drifted upper elevation slopes. Human triggered avalanches involving drifted new snow up to about a foot deep are possible in some areas, most likely on east facing slopes. These probably won't be too big, but they could run far and fast.

    • Avoid drifted snow on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, rocky outcrops, cliffs, and tree stringers.
    • Stay off and out from under large ridge top cornices, which are likely to break further back than expected, and could trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Temperatures finally dipped below freezing in the mountains, but it stayed warmer in the valleys, and a few inches of snow insulated the warm wet snow at mid and lower elevations. Wet avalanches will be possible for people to trigger, and natural activity may occur in places. If the sun comes out from behind the clouds for any period, rapid warming will cause a quick increase in danger of wet avalanches entraining fresh snow in sunny terrain.

    • Continue to avoid being on or under steep slopes with melt-softened saturated snow, and stay out of runout gullies.

Special Announcement

Thank you to everyone who supported our spring fundraiser. We reached and even exceeded our goals. The Utah Avalanche Center could not exist without your support.

Spring is here and it is time to adjust our travel. Learn what to watch for during spring avalanche conditions when the snow becomes wet. Watch our Spring video HERE

Recent Activity

Despite poor visibility, we could see some minor natural activity in the Wellsville Range Wednesday (4/10/19), with one fairly sizable new avalanche noted in North Shumway Canyon. No other new avalanches were reported yesterday.

4/10/19 natural avalanche in North Shumway Canyon in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.

Numerous fairly large natural wet loose and a few wet slab avalanches occurred late last week across the Logan Zone. Wet loose and wet slab avalanches occurred with daytime solar warming.

Snow and Weather

The Tony Grove Snotel reports 83 inches of total snow, with 2 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours and 10 inches with .9" SWE from this week's storm. It's 25ºF this morning at the UDOT Hwy 89 Logan Summit weather station. I'm reading 18ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and northwest winds are averaging 14 mph.

Accumulations of fresh snow and drifting from blustery north-northwest winds created heightened avalanche conditions on upper elevation slopes, and avalanches of wind drifted new snow are possible for people to trigger. Cooler temperatures and cloud cover will help with the wet avalanche problem today, but it stayed above freezing in Cache Valley, so avalanches of wet snow are possible at lower elevations. The danger of wet avalanches could increase rapidly in sunny terrain if the sun peeks out of the clouds for a while.

Cool and unsettled weather will continue today with scattered rain and snow showers. High pressure will bring tranquil weather Saturday. Mountain snow and valley rain chances return early next week as a cold front moves across the state.

There is a 50% chance of snow showers today, with little in the way of accumulation. It will be mostly cloudy, and some thunder is possible. High temperatures at 8500' are expected to be around 32ºF, with 10 to 15 mph northwest wind. It will be partly cloudy tonight, with low temperatures around 20ºF, and 6 to 13 mph west winds. It will be partly sunny tomorrow, with high temperatures around 36ºF and 7 to 15 mph west-southwest wind.

Additional Info

I will update this forecast tomorrow morning. Our last regular forecast will be on Monday, 4/15/19, with intermittent and weekend updates continuing through April.

Here is a short video about Spring snow.

General Announcements

Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. You should check out and use the new Avalanche Beacon Training Park we set up at the Franklin Basin trailhead. Special thanks to Northstars Ultimate Outdoors, USU Outdoor Program, and Beaver Mountain Ski Patrol for helping us to make this possible.

Check out the improved weather links, road conditions, and weather links for each forecast region on the new UAC IOS App. Do you use the NOAA point forecast? If so, now you can bookmark your favorite weather locations in "My Weather" in the App. HERE

Are you new to the backcountry or looking to refresh your skills? The UAC has released a free 5-part avalanche skills eLearning series. HERE

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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 call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram.

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

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