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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Saturday, February 10, 2024
With fine shallow powder and cold bluebird weather, today is a great day to get into the mountains. However, elevated avalanche conditions exist on upper and mid-elevation slopes steeper than 30°.
People could trigger slab avalanches of wind-drifted snow, and cornice falls are possible in some drifted upper-elevation terrain. Small loose and soft slab avalanches of fresh snow are possible on steep slopes at all elevations. The probability of triggering a dangerous avalanche failing on a buried persistent weak layer is low, but not zero. These remain possible in outlying drifted rocky terrain with shallow snow cover.
Fine, fast, shallow powder conditions are easy to find on slopes less steep than 30° across the Logan Zone. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and don't let the excellent snow conditions cloud your judgment.
  • Cross steep slopes and potential avalanche paths one person at a time.
  • Everyone should recheck and practice with their transceiver, probe, and shovel.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Want to learn more about how to stay safe from avalanches while riding in the backcountry? Join us Feb 23-24 for an Introduction to Avalanche class. Information and registration here.
Weather and Snow
A bluebird day with cold temperatures and excellent powder conditions, today will be a great day to get out into the Logan Area Backcountry. Fine, fast, and fun powder conditions are found in many areas. Safe lower-angled slopes (less steep than 30°) offer a good option and some of the best riding due to a solid crust formed during last week's warm spell.
The backcountry avalanche danger is not as high as in areas to our south because we received much less new snow this week, and the deeper snow from January makes the snowpack generally more stable.
The wind is blowing from the west-northwest this morning 10 to 15 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, where it's a chilly 5° F. On Paris Peak at 9500', it’s also 5° F, and the wind is blowing 10 mph from the north-northeast. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 9° F and 4 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. There is 85 inches of total snow at the site, containing 120% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent).
Skies will be mostly sunny, with a high temperature around 23° F at 8500'. The wind will blow from the north 7 to 10 mph. Tomorrow will also be sunny, with high temperatures around 26° F and winds blowing 5 to 8 mph from the north-northwest.
Recent Avalanches
A skier triggered a small avalanche of loose snow in the Beaver Mountain Backcountry on Friday. No more significant avalanches have been reported in the Logan Zone so far in February.
Check out local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Small human-triggered avalanches of wind-drifted snow are possible and most likely on upper elevation slopes facing northwest through southeast.
  • Avoid recent drifts and soft wind slabs on steep slopes. Drifting of this week's fresh snow created wind slabs on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub ridges, gully walls, mid-slope roll-overs, and under cliff bands. Evidence of recent drifting could be hidden by a few inches of fresh powder.
  • Soft slab and loose avalanches of new snow are possible on slopes steeper than 30°.
  • Stay well away from and out from under overhanging cornices, which may break further back than expected.
  • Even small avalanches of wind-drifted snow or soft new snow could run fast and far on the slick crust formed during last week's warm temperatures.
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Large and scary avalanches failing on sugary snow near the ground are unlikely but not impossible. In some outlying areas with shallower snow cover (3 or 4 feet deep), a buried persistent weak layer of faceted snow from the December dry spell may be reawakened by this week's incremental load of new snow. The probability is low, but not zero, and potential hard slab avalanches could be large, destructive, and life-threatening.
  • Avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer may be possible in recently drifted outlying rocky or windswept areas with generally shallow snow cover.
  • Collapsing or whumpfs are obvious signs of instability, but these red flags may not be present when deep hard slab avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer occur.
  • It's a good idea to dig into the snow to identify areas with poor snow structure before you commit to steeper objectives. Another trick is to probe for areas with shallower total snow that may harbor buried persistent weak layers.
Additional Information
On Sunday, we checked out the deposition from multiple large avalanches that occurred in January in Woodcamp. Though not historical in size, these slides laid out some pretty impressive debris piles.
General Announcements
-Listen to your very own Logan Zone avalanche forecasters on UAC Podcasts HERE
-Read Toby's recent blog about wind, drifting, and avalanches HERE
-Sign up for forecast region-specific text message alerts. You will receive messages about changing avalanche conditions, watches, and warnings...HERE.
-For all questions on forecasts, education, Know Before You Go, events, online purchases, or fundraising, call 801-365-5522.
-To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry, go HERE.
-Come practice companion rescue at the Franklin Basin TH Beacon Training Park. It's free and open to everyone. For easy user instructions, go HERE
-We will update this forecast by 7:30 AM tomorrow.
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.
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