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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Paige Pagnucco
Issued by Paige Pagnucco for
Saturday, April 6, 2024
A cold, powerful, late-winter storm rolls through the zone today, and the avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE. Heavy snowfall and strong winds will create heightened conditions in drifted upper and mid-elevation terrain where people might trigger wind slab and loose snow avalanches.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Weather and Snow
With the passing of yesterday's cold front, mountain temperatures have dropped drastically which helped stabilize our saturated snowpack (at least the top few inches). As a hefty, quick-hitting storm rolls through the zone today, expect a rising danger for wind-drifted avalanches in leeward-facing terrain. Powerful winds blowing from the northwest and heavy snowfall will create heightened avalanche conditions. The chances of triggering an avalanche increase throughout the day. *Our zone is generally not favored in a northwest flow, but we'll keep our fingers crossed. Riding conditions should greatly improve with even a few inches.
The Tony Grove Lake Snotel at 8400' reports a chilly 17° F this morning, and there is 98 inches of total snow at the site containing 120% of normal snow water equivalent. At the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, winds are blowing from the north-northwest in the teens mph with gusts in the 20's mph and it is 12° F. At our new Paris Peak weather station at 9500', it's 10 °F, and the wind is blowing from the west at 22 mph with gusts over 30 mph. It's 15° F at our new Card Canyon weather station at 8800', and there is 84 inches of total snow.
Today, expect blustery, winter-like conditions in the mountains with heavy snowfall and strong winds. The 8500' high temperature will be around 28° F and winds from the northwest will start out in the teens but increase to steady 20's mph in the afternoon with gusts in the 40's mph. Amounts will vary with some areas getting a few inches while others may get over a foot of new snow. The storm continues through tonight into tomorrow with more snow and wind.
For more information, visit our mountain weather page HERE.
Recent Avalanches
No avalanches were reported yesterday.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Today starts out calm but winds and snowfall will increase and remain steady throughout the day and into the evening. As snow stacks up, you could trigger soft slab avalanches of drifted snow, in upper and mid-elevation terrain on slopes steeper than 30°. I expect the new snow to bond well to the existing snow surface but whenever we get a heavy hit of snow and wind, the snowpack takes a bit of time to stabilize.
  • Identify drifted snow or wind slabs on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub ridges, gully walls, mid-slope rollovers, scoops, and cliff bands.
  • Watch for cracking and other obvious signs of instability, like recent avalanches on similar slopes.
  • You might trigger loose snow avalanches on very steep slopes.
  • Practice safe travel protocols to avoid exposing more than one person to avalanche danger.
Additional Information
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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