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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Tuesday morning, December 10, 2024
The avalanche danger is generally LOW in the backcountry, and the weak sugary snow is stable on most slopes. Areas with elevated conditions and MODERATE danger may exist in some high, drifted terrain. People might trigger small avalanches of wind-drifted snow and should avoid recently formed drifts on upper elevation slopes steeper than 30°.
Use normal caution. Keep your speed down to avoid hitting shallowly buried stumps, rocks, and downed trees.
Low
Moderate
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High
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Weather and Snow
The light new snow did not change avalanche conditions much, but a thin coating of fresh white paint did go a long way toward improving attitudes. Fairly strong winds out of the west have elevated avalanche conditions a little bit in exposed upper-elevation terrain, and people might trigger small wind slab avalanches. Our greatest concern continues to be people hitting rocks, downed trees, and stumps. You can find pockets of cold, dry old snow in sheltered, shaded terrain, but you may have to work for it.
-I'm reading 10° F and 20 inches of total snow at the UAC Card Canyon weather station at 8700 feet above sea level.
-The 8500' Tony Grove Snotel reports 14°F and there is 18 inches of total snow on the ground.
-Currently, at 9700' at the CSI Logan Peak weather station, it's 6° F, and the wind is blowing 23 to 31 mph from the west-northwest.
-At 9500' at the UAC Paris Peak weather station it's also 6° F, and winds are from the west, blowing 28 to 40 mph.
Expect partly sunny and cold weather in the mountains today, with a chance for a few more snow showers this morning. High temperatures around 18° F are expected at 8500 feet, winds blowing from the west 7 to 13 mph, and wind chill values as low as -1° F!
A return to high pressure is expected, but this will hopefully be short-lived, with another cold front expected to pass over the area on Thursday. 2 to 5 inches of accumulation is possible Thursday and Thursday night on upper elevation slopes. It's still too early to get your hopes up, but another small storm could bring a few more inches of accumulation to the Bear River mountains over the weekend.
For more information, visit the UAC weather page here: Weather - Utah Avalanche Center
For Logan-specific weather, go here: Logan Mountain Weather - Utah Avalanche Center
Recent Avalanches
No significant avalanches have been reported recently.
You can read all observations here.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Winds blowing from the west 28 to 40 mph on Paris Peak this morning are likely continuing to drift snow. The wind is scouring snow off windward slopes and low-angled terrain in fetch areas and depositing it as stiff drifts or wind slabs where it decelerates in lee terrain.
  • On some drifted slopes steeper than 30°, where slabs formed on weak faceted snow, people might trigger small avalanches of wind-drifted snow.
  • Watch for and avoid shallow slabs of wind-drifted snow in exposed, upper-elevation terrain facing north through southeast and in and around terrain features like gullies, rock outcroppings, and sub-ridges.
  • Getting caught in an avalanche right now is especially dangerous because of the abundance of fixed obstacles like stumps, rocks, and downed trees.
Additional Information
Matt found these nice, well-developed depth hoar crystals on Monday in the North Sinks Area.
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.
-Remember that the Tony Grove Road is not maintained for winter driving. Treacherous snow-covered and icy conditions will be encountered.

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.