Logan

The avalanche danger is LOW in the backcountry this morning, and wet avalanches are unlikely but still possible in steep sheltered terrain. A windy storm will impact the Logan Zone today, with several inches of accumulation possible and strong westerly winds. Heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger may develop on upper elevation slopes later this afternoon, and people could trigger shallow avalanches of wind drifted snow on exposed slopes steeper than 30° *Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, especially later this afternoon in drifted upper elevation terrain.

Special thank you to Polaris and Northstar...Video Here

Who's up for some free avalanche training? Get a refresher, become better prepared for an upcoming avalanche class, or just boost your skills. Go to https://learn.kbyg.org/ and scroll down to Step 2 for a series of interactive online avalanche courses produced by the UAC.

• Please submit your observations from the backcountry HERE.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. 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.

Conditions were quite a bit different last weekend than the one before, with much colder temperatures and much more stable snow in the backcountry. Exceptionally warm weather at the end of March caused a fairly widespread natural wet avalanche cycle in the Logan Zone, with several large wet slab and numerous wet loose avalanches observed.

A large natural wet loose avalanche from the warm spell in Three Terraces, upper Providence Canyon, looks like it was triggered by a cornice fall overrunning the slope.

Check out all the recent backcountry observations and many recent avalanche reports from across Utah HERE.

Expect increasing winds and clouds today, but the high angled April sun and seasonal daytime warmth will again soften up the snow surface by midday, especially in sheltered terrain. If you start sinking into wet snow or observe signs of wet snow instability, it's time to reevaluate your route so that you avoid steep terrain.

A windy storm will impact the Logan Zone later today, and several inches of accumulation is possible on upper elevation slopes by evening, especially in the northern Bear River Range. Increasingly strong winds blowing from the west-southwest will drift the fresh snow, creating shallow wind slabs in exposed terrain. Depending on accumulation amounts, by later this afternoon and this evening, people could trigger small avalanches of wind drifted snow on slopes steeper than 30°.

The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 31°F, and there is 56 inches of total snow at the site, containing 68% of normal SWE. It's a little hard to read the remote station data this morning, but it looks like an inch or two of fresh snow may have accumulated in some areas of the Bear River Range. Increasing southwest winds are blowing around 25 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, where overnight temperatures were only a couple degrees below freezing, and it's 28°F this morning.

• A windy storm will clip the Bear River Range, and significant accumulation is possible, especially in the northern part of the Logan Zone. Expect the avalanche danger to increase at upper elevations in the backcountry due to drifting.
• This morning, temperatures at 8500' will top out around 41°F, and we expect increasing cloudiness and winds blowing from the west-southwest. Snow showers are likely in the afternoon, with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible and blowing snow.
• Snow could be heavy at times tonight, especially in the northern Bear River Range, and blowing snow is a good bet. 4 to 8 inches of snow accumulation is possible on upper elevation slopes. Low temperatures will drop to around 17°F and west winds will blow around 35 mph, with gusts well over 50 mph likely.
• Tomorrow, we'll see mostly cloudy skies, diminishing snow showers, steady temperatures around 23°F, and continuing strong west winds, blowing 30 to 35 mph and gusting around 50 mph. Little if any additional accumulation is expected.
• It will be could and blustery tomorrow night, with low temperatures around 12°F, and decreasing 25 to 30 mph west winds pushing wind chill values as low as -2°F.
• Fair and mostly sunny weather with gradual warming is expected beginning Wednesday and lasting through the work week.

• Now is a great time to practice your avalanche rescue skills. Thanks to the generous support of Northstar, the Franklin Basin Beacon Training Park is up and running. The park is located directly west of the parking lot and is open for anyone to use. All you need is your beacon and probe. Please do not dig up the transmitters.
• Always follow safe backcountry travel protocols. Go one person at a time in avalanche terrain, while the rest of your party watches from a safe area. (practice anytime while traveling on or under backcountry slopes steeper than 30°)
• Check your avalanche rescue equipment, change your batteries, and practice often with your backcountry partners. Check slope angles, and to avoid avalanche terrain stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30° and adjacent slopes. Video Here