Logan

MODERATE: You'll find nice cold powder in the backcountry, but heightened avalanche conditions exist on many slopes due to wind drifted snow. Human triggered avalanches are possible. The snow on most slopes with shallow snow cover has become sugary or faceted and very weak, and the New Year's cold spell is only making it worse. Despite widespread weakness, the snow is stable and the danger LOW in sheltered and lower elevation terrain, and anywhere it isn't drifted.

• Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and continue to avoid steep slopes with wind drifted snow.

No avalanches were reported recently in the Logan Zone.. A party reported triggering an audible collapse or whumpf yesterday on an upper elevation ridge in Franklin Basin, just north of the Idaho State Line.

We found less sensitive drifts than expected from the strong east winds on the last day of 2018, but triggered avalanches involving wind drifted snow are certainly possible on drifted upper and mid elevation slopes. Some drifts probably formed in unusual or unexpected places, and you'll need to carefully evaluate any slope you plan to commit to. Continue to avoid steep drifted terrain.

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 8º F this morning and there's 42"of total snow containing 85% of average SWE. It's a balmy 15º F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and north-northwest winds are currently averaging about 23 mph.

High pressure aloft will expand east across the western states through the balance of the week. Strengthening inversions will trap cold air in the valleys, with a warming trend developing across the higher elevations. Today will be sunny and cold in the mountains, with a high temperature at 8500' around 19º F and 5 to 7 mph west-northwest wind. Wind chills as low as -13º F are expected. Tonight will be clear, with a low around 3º F and 6 mph west wind, creating wind chill values around -6º F. Tomorrow will be sunny and warmer in the mountains, with a high temperature near 27º F, and 5 to 8 mph west-southwest wind.

The shallow snow on the ground in many areas has become loose, sugary, and faceted in the past couple weeks, and this week's very cold temperatures are only making it worse. We've found particularly weak snow at mid and lower elevations in the backcountry, anywhere where the total snow is fairly shallow. Lacking a slab of stronger snow on top for now, the sugary snow is currently stable despite it's weakness.

I will update this forecast on Friday morning.

The Beaver Mountain Backside is the backcountry, and it is avalanche terrain. If you cross the ski area boundary, you and your partners should carry and practice with avalanche rescue equipment. As always in the backcountry, practice safe backcountry travel protocols.

The new UAC IOS mobile app is now available on the app store. Check out the new "My Weather" feature. HERE

Check out the new free online avalanche course series developed by the Utah Avalanche Center. This is a great way to refresh your skills or prepare you for a Backcountry 101 or Level 1 class. HERE

Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. Here is our practice video.

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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.