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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Sunday morning, December 10, 2023
People will find excellent powder riding conditions in the backcountry. Elevated avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist on slopes steeper than 30 degrees in drifted terrain at upper elevations. People might trigger soft or harder slab avalanches of wind-drifted snow, and loose avalanches are possible on very steep slopes in more sheltered areas.
Dangerous avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer are unlikely but possible on isolated rocky slopes with thin snow cover.
The danger is LOW in most areas, especially on sheltered slopes and low and mid-elevation terrain.
Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully and avoid drifted slopes.
Low
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High
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
Overnight upper-elevation winds increased, blowing from the southwest. The new Paris Peak weather station at 9500' reports average wind speeds of around 35 mph, with gusts close to 50 mph this morning. The CSI Logan Peak weather station reports similar conditions. This wind is finding plenty of snow to drift into avalanche-starting zones since about two feet of "cold smoke" powder accumulated Friday on many slopes in the Central Bear River Range. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reported 23" of settled new snow with 2.6" SWE. This morning, it's showing a total snow depth of 50 inches, and it's 18 F.
Expect mostly cloudy weather in the mountains today and a chance of light snow but little accumulation. 8500' high temperatures will be around 26 F and west winds will blow 15 to 20 mph.
Cloudy conditions and periods of light snow with little accumulation are expected for the beginning of the week. Seasonally cold temperatures and sunny conditions are expected later in the week. No significant storms are in the forecast.
Recent Avalanches
On Friday, riders triggered a couple of small, very soft slab avalanches of storm snow in steep terrain near Tony Grove Lake.
You can visit our avalanche page to check out the recently reported avalanche activity from the Bear River Mountains and the Wasatch Range.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
In exposed terrain, blustery winds from the southwest overnight and this morning drifted and are drifting snow into avalanche-starting zones. In some cases, fresh drifts may overload slopes with weak sugary snow.
  • Avoid stiffer, drifted snow on the lee side of prominent ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, sub-ridges, scoops, mid-slope rollovers, and rock outcroppings or cliff bands.
  • Drifted snow is stiffer than fresh powder, and lense-shaped wind slabs might sound hollow, like a drum. Soft wind slabs could be very sensitive and easily triggered. Hard wind slabs are often more stubborn but can release suddenly like a mouse trap when people get out on them.
  • Loose snow avalanches are possible on slopes steeper than 30 degrees, especially in areas that picked up significant new snow on Thursday (up to around 2 feet in some areas). The biggest hazard with small loose avalanches is being pushed off ledges or into terrain traps or trees below you.
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Dangerous avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer are increasingly unlikely as the shallow, sugary snow from November is buried and pressed into terrain anchors by a deep layer of heavy and hardening snow.
  • Avalanches failing on a persistent weak layer could still be triggered remotely, from a distance, or below.
  • Cracking and collapsing (or whumpfs) are definite signs of instability.
Additional Information
We went up to the Ballroom in Beaver Envy (Amazon Face) on Saturday and this is what we found,
This fall, we installed two new weather stations in the Logan Zone. The Paris Peak Weather Station (available HERE) and the Card Canyon Weather Station (available HERE)
General Announcements
Taking time to check your companion rescue gear and practice with your transceiver is essential. watch a short video here
Our 20th annual Pray For Snow fundraiser party was a huge success. Thanks for coming and showing your support!
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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