Heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist on mid and upper elevation slopes in the backcountry. Strong April sun will likely cause natural and easily triggered loose wet avalanches entraining moist new snow in steep sunny terrain. Also, people could trigger shallow soft slab avalanches of drifted new snow on steep upper elevation slopes.
EVALUATE SNOW AND TERRAIN CAREFULLY
As the fresh snow warms under the high angled spring sun today, natural and easily triggered wet loose avalanches entraining moist new snow will be likely. These will entrain all of yesterday's new snow and could produce large piles of heavy debris on sustained steep slopes.
Several inches of new snow accumulated on upper elevation slopes, and westerly winds built soft wind slabs in lee slope avalanche starting zones and in and around terrain features like gullies, sub-ridges. and cliff bands.
Long running loose avalanches or sluffs of new snow are possible on more sheltered steep upper elevation slopes.
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The excessive heat this weekend caused natural wet avalanche activity to occur on steep slopes in the Logan Zone, including this nice wet avalanche in Drop-in, Drop-out in Lower Logan Canyon.
This natural wet avalanche in Lower Logan Canyon was observed Sunday on a north facing slope, and it started at around 8000' in elevation.
Looks like about 9 inches of new snow fell at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel Monday night and yesterday. It's 27°F this morning, and there is 57"of total snow containing 64% of normal SWE. Winds from the west-northwest are blowing around 20 mph, and it's 20°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station.
The sun will be out in full force today, and it looks like fair spring weather will last through the rest of the week and through the weekend. High temperatures at upper elevations will top out around 40°F today, and a light west-southwest breeze will blow across the ridges. It will be a clear night tonight, with mountain temperatures dropping into the mid twenties and a southerly breeze. West winds will increase tomorrow afternoon, and temperatures will be around 15°F, with blustery conditions on Thursday night. It looks like mostly clear and sunny conditions through the weekend, with seasonably warm daytime temperatures, and decent cooling with temperatures well below freezing at night.
It looks like nice spring weather in the Logan Zone for the rest of the week and through the weekend. We are expecting warm and sunny days and cold nights, with mountain temperatures well below freezing.
General Spring Travel Advise:
As daytime temperatures rise, softening the snow, the danger of wet avalanches will increase, so its a good idea to get in the habit of an early start and to plan on heading down before things get too sloppy.
-Watch for trees or other terrain traps below you if you venture onto steep slopes.
-Roller balls, pin-wheels, and natural wet avalanche activity are red flags indicating potential for people to trigger wet avalanches.
-If you start sinking deeply into wet snow, or if the snow you are traveling on becomes unsupportable due to the heat, it's time to leave.
Visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.
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We will update this forecast by around 7:30 Friday 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.
