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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Friday, April 5, 2024
Overnight temperatures stayed well above freezing at all stations again, but cooling and continuing strong winds should keep a lid on wet avalanche activity. The danger is MODERATE, with natural and human-triggered wet avalanches and cornice falls possible. Rain on the already-saturated snow could elevate the danger of wet avalanches on steep low—and mid-elevation slopes. Also, areas with heightened conditions exist in drifted upper-elevation terrain where people might trigger hard wind slab avalanches.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Weather and Snow
Winds blowing from the south-southeast have been howling across the high ridges for the last 36 hours or so, likely producing shallow, hard wind slabs of drifted snow in upper-elevation terrain. Temperatures stayed well above freezing at all stations overnight again, and a superficial refreeze overnight has likely only formed a shallow surface crust in many areas, which will soften up again this morning. Solar heating, potential greenhousing, and possible rain on the snow at lower and mid-elevations this afternoon will elevate the potential for dangerous wet avalanches that could entrain heavy piles of moist or saturated snow.
The Tony Grove Lake Snotel at 8400' reports a toasty 38° F this morning, and there is 97 inches of total snow at the site containing 118% of normal snow water equivalent.
At the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, winds are blowing from the south-southeast 36 mph with a 71 mph gust at 0300, and it is 32° F.
At our new Paris Peak weather station at 9500', it's 32 °F, and the wind blows from the south at 8 mph with gusts in the teens.
It's 36° F at our new Card Canyon weather station at 8800', and there is 84 inches of total snow.
Today, expect warm temperatures, mostly sunny skies, and breezy conditions this morning in the mountains. Snow showers are likely this afternoon, with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible up high and rain possible at lower elevations. Temperatures should drop into the twenties this afternoon, and it will be breezy, with 17 to 26 mph winds (gusts to around 45 mph) blowing from the south-southwest. Snow showers are expected to continue tonight , with another 1 to 3 inches possible.
Winter will return in full force tomorrow, with snow falling heavily at times, possible thunder and lightning, and strong winds out of the west, blowing 21 to 30 mph, with gusts around 45 mph. 8 to 12 inches could accumulate on upper elevation slopes by evening. The stormy weather will continue Saturday night, with even stronger winds from the west and 3 to 5 inches of additional accumulation possible.
For more information, visit our mountain weather page HERE
Recent Avalanches
On Monday, a rider triggered a small, not unexpected, soft wind slab in a steep chute on a NE facing slope at 9200' in the Central Bear River Range. report
From the Highway in Sardine Canyon Tuesday afternoon, we could see large piles of fresh wet avalanche debris beneath Mitton Peak. More natural wet avalanches occurred in the past couple days in sunny terrain across the zone.
A good-sized natural wet avalanche that ran on Tuesday off Mitton Peak in the Wellsville Range is visible from Hwy 89/91.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
After another night with mountain temperatures well above freezing, solar heating, potential greenhousing, and seasonal warmth this morning will cause the snow to be soft and saturated, and prone to producing wet avalanches. Many lower slopes have been burned off or melted, but rain falling on the already saturated snow this afternoon could elevate the danger at lower and mid-elevations.
  • If you are sinking deeply into wet/moist snow, move to a lower-angle slope or cooler aspect or elevation.
  • Avoid being on or under steep slopes with moist or saturated snow. Be aware of terrain traps below like trees, gullies, sinks, or rock outcroppings that wet avalanches could sweep you into.
  • The heat is causing large overhanging cornices on the major ridges to sag and buckle, and some of these could calve off large chunks, perhaps causing avalanches on slopes below.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Incessant winds are still blowing strongly from the south as they have been for the last 36 hours or so. Despite a lack of much transportable snow, these winds have probably created hard wind slabs of drifted snow in some upper-elevation lee-slope terrain. Hard wind slabs can be devious, often allowing people to get out on them before releasing, like a big mouse trap.
Additional Information
Large piles of fresh wet avalanche debris can be seen below Mitton Peak in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.
Yesterday afternoon, I looked at the east side of the Wellsville Range and observed several wet avalanches that weren't there on Wednesday. Most of these were under large cornices. This is looking up Hell Canyon above Mendon.
***Check out McKinley Talty's new blog post, "Do We Let Our Guard Down in the Spring?" about springtime mindsets and avalanche incidents... HERE
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
-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 issue regular daily updates of our forecast through April 14.
-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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