Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains
Issued by Toby Weed on
Thursday morning, February 13, 2020
Thursday morning, February 13, 2020
The snow is stable on most slopes and the avalanche danger is LOW in the backcountry today. Low danger does not mean no danger, and on isolated very steep slopes at upper elevations people still might trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow.
- Use normal caution, check everyone's avalanche rescue gear, and continue to practice safe travel protocols.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
It's 18°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, there is 86 inches of total snow, containing 133% of normal Snow Water Equivalent. West winds are currently blowing around 20 mph at the CSI Logan Peak weather station, and it's 11°F at 9700'.
There is not much in the way of powder to be found, but we're keeping our expectations low, and we've been rewarded by better than expected snow conditions.
We found a deep and stable snowpack in Hells Kitchen, but there is some weak graupel and rimed snow near the surface
It'll be cloudy this morning, then gradually clearing, with high temperatures at 8500' around 27°F and 9 to 13 mph west winds. It'll be mostly clear tonight, with low temperatures around 13°F and 9 to 14 mph southwest wind. There is a chance of snow tomorrow afternoon. It'll be partly sunny with high temperatures around 30°F and 18 to 24 mph southwest winds veering from the west-northwest in the afternoon. The next Pacific storm will begin to arrive in the Logan Zone Saturday evening with rain likely at lower elevations. Significant accumulations are possible at upper elevations before the storm winds down on Monday, but details and timing with this event are still a bit vague.
Recent Avalanches
Natural activity was fairly widespread in the Logan Zone during last week's windy and warm storm. We could see blown-in evidence of some pretty large avalanches in the Hells Kitchen Area, including a large one in Steam Mill 3, est. 2' deep, 250' wide, running ~600vrt'
Clearing Saturday morning allowed us to get views of fairly widespread natural avalanche activity in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness, including this nice fresh one in Old Logway Canyon. The avalanche appears to be two to three feet deep and 300' to 400' wide, running well over 2000 vrt', but stopping just short of the flats on Maple Bench.
Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The snow is stable on most slopes, and avalanches are generally unlikely. Low danger does not mean no danger, and avalanches remain possible on some isolated upper elevation slopes. People might trigger avalanches of previously or recently wind drifted snow in very steep terrain.
- Watch for and avoid old and newer drifts near ridge lines and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, scoops, gully walls, and sub-ridges.
- Avoid ridge top cornices, which can break much further back than expected and start avalanches on slopes below.
It's important to continue to practice safe travel protocols even when the avalanche danger is Low.
General Announcements
Are you looking to improve your avalanche skills? We are offering a Backcountry 101: Introduction to Avalanches class at Powder Mountain February 14-15. Info and sign up HERE
Thanks to the generous support of our Utah ski resorts and Ski Utah, we have discount lift tickets available. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education! Get your tickets HERE.
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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations....HERE. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.
This forecast is from the USDA Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
I will update this forecast before about 7:30 tomorrow morning.