UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!
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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Paige Pagnucco
Issued by Paige Pagnucco on
Saturday morning, December 28, 2024
The avalanche danger is HIGH today in the backcountry. Heavy snowfall and drifting by strong winds will overload slopes with pre-existing weak snow. Natural avalanches and human-triggered avalanches are likely, especially on northerly-facing steep slopes at mid and upper elevations.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist, and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
People should avoid being on or beneath drifted upper-elevation slopes steeper than 30° and stay clear of obvious and historic avalanche paths and runouts.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Avalanche Warning
What: The avalanche danger is HIGH today and possibly EXTREME tonight.
Where: For the mountains of Northern Utah and Southeastern Idaho, including the Bear River Range and Wellsville Mountains.
Impacts: Heavy snowfall and strong winds are causing widespread areas of unstable snow. Both human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely.
What to do: Avoid all avalanche terrain. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue equipment. Find safer riding conditions on slopes less than 30 degrees with no overhead hazard.
Special Announcements
Now is a great time to dial in your safety gear including putting fresh new batteries in your beacons! Local shops across the state will be handing out free Batteries for Beacons now until February 1, 2025. All you need to do is fill out a quick survey and grab the AAA or AA batteries you need to keep your beacon fresh this season. Find participating shops and more info HERE.
Weather and Snow
It's snowing again this morning in the mountains. Heavy snowfall and significant drifting caused by strong winds from the southwest are creating HIGH avalanche danger in the backcountry today. Avoid all avalanche terrain. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30°, as avalanches can be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below. A persistent weak layer of sugary, faceted snow is widespread in upper and mid-elevation terrain, and most slopes are plagued by very poor snowpack structure. Avalanche conditions are complicated, so we advise staying in low-angle terrain and meadows.
-The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 1.3" of SWE (snow water equivalent) and about 7 inches of settled new snow in the last 24 hours. It's 26° F, with 46 inches of total snow.
-Winds on Logan Peak are blowing from the southwest 30 to 35 mph with gusts around 45 mph and it's 21° F.
-It's 24° F at 8800 feet at our Card Canyon station, with about 5 inches of new snow and 35 inches total.
-On Paris Peak at 9500 feet in Bloomington Canyon, it is 19° F and the winds are blowing 18 to 25 mph from the south-southwest.
We are in the midst of a multi-wave storm, with today being the crescendo. Expect heavy snowfall, with 14 to 20 inches of accumulation by tonight, in favored areas. The 8500' high will reach 32° F, with rain likely below that. Winds will blow from the west-southwest at 15 to 20 MPH with gusts in the 30's. Snowfall continues into tonight, with 8 to 12 more inches possible. We get a lull in the action tomorrow before the last strong wave rolls through Sunday night, with another 8 to 12 inches possible.
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
-On Christmas Eve, two local riders (brothers) had a very close call with a large avalanche in Steep Hollow in Franklin Basin. The avalanche was perhaps 2 feet deep and 700 feet wide. It occurred on a northeast-facing slope at around 9000 feet in elevation. The accident report is HERE.
-Observers reported a small soft slab avalanche yesterday on a steep, upper-elevation, north-facing slope. (Note: this slope was heavily skied before this recent storm.)
-You can read all recent local observations HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Very weak, sugary, faceted snow exists on almost all northerly-facing slopes at upper and mid-elevations. Large and dangerous avalanches are likely on drifted mid and upper-elevation steep slopes, including in more sheltered terrain. With enough added weight, avalanches may occur on low-elevation, northerly-facing slopes with poor snowpack structure.
  • Recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and collapsing (whumpfs) are signs of unstable snow.
  • Avalanches today could be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below.
  • As the storm rapidly overloads slopes with poor snow structure, large natural avalanches will become increasingly likely.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Moderate winds blowing from the southwest will continue today with gusts over 30 MPH.
  • Avalanches of wind-drifted snow are likely as slabs form and thicken on the lee side of major ridges.
  • Drifting will form wind slabs in exposed terrain and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, gullies, and scoops.
  • In some cases, the new wind slabs may overload slopes hanging in a delicate balance, and larger avalanches stepping down to the widespread buried persistent weak layer are possible.
Avalanche Problem #3
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Continued heavy snowfall and rapid accumulations will increase the danger of loose and soft slab avalanches of new snow at all elevations and snow-covered slopes steeper than 30°. Natural avalanches are possible on any steep slope, particularly during periods of intensified snowfall.
  • With a forecast high temperature of 32° F at 8500 ', rain is expected this afternoon at low elevations and wet avalanches will become possible on any steep, snow-covered slope with saturated snow. I am uncertain about this problem as the snow/rain line may fluctuate, and it's always hard to know exactly when the snow is saturated. Roller balls are a good indicator of unstable wet snow.
Additional Information
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.
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