Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains
Issued by Toby Weed on
Friday morning, February 14, 2020
Friday morning, February 14, 2020
The snow is stable on most slopes and the avalanche danger is LOW in the backcountry. Low danger does not mean no danger, and people might trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow on isolated very steep slopes at upper elevations.
- 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 27°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, there is 85 inches of total snow, containing 133% of normal Snow Water Equivalent. Southwest winds are currently blowing around 30 mph, with gusts in the 50s at the CSI Logan Peak weather station, and it's 21°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 mostly sunny this morning, then a chance of snow showers this afternoon, with high temperatures at 8500' around 29°F and 16 to 18 mph west winds. It'll be partly cloudy tonight, with low temperatures around 11°F and 15 to 20 mph west-northwest wind. There is a chance of snow tomorrow afternoon. It'll be mostly cloudy with high temperatures around 26°F and 9 to 15 mph west-southwest winds. The next Pacific storm will begin to arrive in the Logan Zone Saturday evening, with 1 to 2 feet of snow possible at upper elevations by Sunday night.
Recent Avalanches
Natural activity was fairly widespread in the Logan Zone during last week's windy and warm storm. No avalanches have been reported locally since last weekend.
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.
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.
EMAIL ADVISORY. If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you subscribe HERE.
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.