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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Elevated avalanche conditions exist at all elevations; the danger is MODERATE, and life-threatening human-triggered avalanches are possible. Although natural avalanches are unlikely, people could trigger dangerous slab avalanches up to three feet deep and a couple hundred feet wide, failing on a buried persistent weak layer, especially where the snow is relatively shallow and in steep, previously drifted rocky terrain.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and avoid slopes steeper than 30° with shallow snow and poor snowpack structure. Reevaluate your plans if you observe obvious signs of instability like recent avalanches or collapsing (whumpfs).
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Weather and Snow
A few inches of snow and light winds today will not affect avalanche conditions very much. Traveling in the backcountry is tricky as the snow gradually stabilizes and avalanche danger slowly decreases. Obvious signs of instability are fewer, but serious human-triggered avalanches, which could be large and destructive, remain possible in many areas. Excellent coverage across the zone makes it easy to find safe areas by staying in terrain less than 30°, off, and out from under steeper slopes. With recent warm temperatures, low-elevation snow is damp, sticky, or crusty, but up higher, the snow is dry, supportable, and fast. We found very good fast shallow powder conditions on low angled slopes in the Northern Bear River Range yesterday
This morning, the wind is blowing around 15 mph from the south-southwest at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. At 9500' on Paris Peak, the wind is light, less than 10 mph from the south, and it’s 21° F.
It's snowing at Beaver Mt (visible on their webcams), with a bit less than an inch of new snow. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 26° F and 77 inches of total snow containing 130% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent). Incredibly, the station reports acquiring 12" SWE between January 4 and January 21.
Today, expect snow in the mountains, with 3 to 5 inches of accumulations possible on upper elevation slopes, and high temperatures at 8500' around 29° F. Winds will blow lightly from the west, 7 to 9 mph. 1 or 2 inches of snow is possible tonight. Partly cloudy conditions and periods of sunshine are possible on Friday and Saturday.
Recent Avalanches
Details are limited, but we received reports of a rider-triggered avalanche last Saturday (1-20) in Birch Creek in the Northern Bear River Range. Observers are still finding evidence of large natural avalanches that occurred late last week in steep terrain across the zone.
Check out local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Today, human-triggered slab avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer could be large and life-threatening. During the last storm, heavy snowfall and drifting by winds from the west overloaded slopes plagued by widespread buried layers of weak, sugary snow or facets and feathery surface hoar that developed during the prolonged December dry spell.
  • Avalanches could be triggered remotely, from a distance, or worse, from below.
  • Collapsing or whumpfs and shooting cracks indicate unstable snow.
  • Avalanches are possible even when there are no obvious signs of instability.
  • With unseasonably warm temperatures and rain, the low-elevation snowpack is soft and saturated. Triggering a wet avalanche in terrain with poor snow structure, like the steep banks next to the Logan River, is possible.
Additional Information
We examined the snow at upper elevations in the Central Bear River Range on Monday and found very deep snow.
It's a different story in terrain with shallower snow and a thinner slab layer. On Wednesday, we had mixed stability test results in the Northern Bear River Range and found areas with shallow snow and more unstable conditions on a mid-elevation northwest-facing slope near Midnight Mountain.
Always follow safe travel protocols on or under slopes steeper than 30°.
  • Be sure everyone in your party has working avalanche rescue equipment, including a transceiver, probe, and shovel. Practice with this equipment regularly, and include and instruct new partners.
  • Cross avalanche paths and runout zones one person at a time, with the rest of the party watching from a safe place.
  • Reevaluate and be willing to change your plans if you encounter any signs of instability, like recent avalanches, audible collapses (whumpfs), or cracking in drifted snow.
General Announcements
-Come practice companion rescue with your backcountry partners at the Franklin Basin TH beacon training park. video 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.
-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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