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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Monday, March 25, 2024
Heightened avalanche conditions exist in drifted upper-elevation terrain, and the danger is MODERATE. People could trigger small soft slab avalanches on wind-drifted slopes steeper than 30°.
Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.
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Weather and Snow
The mountains picked up about 5-6" of new snow on upper-elevation slopes over the weekend, and a bit more snow is expected this afternoon. The new snow greatly improved riding conditions and covered up the brown dust layer. The snow surface before the storm was quite variable, and the new snow did not bond very well in some areas. Yesterday, riders triggered several small but fast-running avalanches in drifted terrain at upper elevations. Observers noted that a few inches of new snow had insulated the soggy old snow at low and mid-elevations yesterday, but last night's much colder temperatures likely caused the underlying crust to harden. Today's best riding conditions will be on lower-angled slopes where you won't feel this crust as much.
On Logan Peak, winds are blowing from the northwest around 15 mph, and it's 19°F at 9700' in elevation. At our new Paris Peak weather station at 9500', it's 15°F, and the wind is blowing from the northwest at 13 mph. It's 19° F at the new Card Canyon weather station at 8800', with about 6 inches of new snow over the weekend and 85 inches of total snow on the ground.
It'll be mostly cloudy today with snow showers likely in the afternoon and 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible at upper elevations. High temperatures at 8500' should reach around 30° F, and winds will blow from the west-northwest 9 to 17 mph.
Tonight, temperatures will drop into the teens again with wind chills near 4° F. Snow showers are likely, with little accumulation expected.
Snow showers could produce 3 to 5 inches of new snow tomorrow, with high temperatures near 30° F and 11 to 20 mph winds blowing from the west.
Recent Avalanches
Riders unintentionally triggered a handful of small soft wind slabs running on the storm interface in the Tony Grove Area in generally north-facing terrain at upper elevations. The largest was reported to be about 6" deep and 70' wide, occurring at around 8800' in elevation. See report.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Saturday night's short-lived storm came with moderately strong winds, which drifted snow into upper-elevation starting zones and created soft wind slabs that were sensitive to human triggering yesterday.
Today, people could trigger avalanches on steep, drifted slopes where the bond with the old snow is poor. Avalanches could also fail on a weak layer within the new snow.
  • Watch for cracking and other obvious signs of instability, like recent avalanches on similar slopes.
  • You could also trigger loose snow avalanches or sluffs on steep, more sheltered slopes where the old snow surface was slick.
  • Small soft slab or loose avalanches in steep terrain could carry you into trees of other terrain traps below.
*** Hot tip: You will find better riding conditions in lower-angled terrain where the shallow new snow keeps you off the old crusty surface.
Additional Information
Yesterday, riders triggered a handful of small soft wind slab avalanches and sluffs of new snow that ran fast and picked up decent piles of snow. Avalanches like these could be a problem in steep terrain if they carry you into trees or other terrain traps like gullys, sinks, or rock outcroppings.
General Announcements
-National Forest Winter Recreation Travel Maps show where it's open to ride: UWCNF Logan, Ogden LRD Tony Grove, Franklin Basin CTNF Montpelier
-Listen to your very own Logan Zone avalanche forecasters on the UAC Podcast HERE.
-Read Toby's 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 tomorrow by 7:30 AM.
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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