Temperatures at lower elevations have dropped well below freezing, and low elevation snow will harden and stabilize fairly quickly. Winds calmed significantly and veered out of the northwest overnight. Avalanche conditions are improving, but it's still quite dangerous in drifted upper and mid elevation terrain and human triggered avalanches are likely. Avalanche accidents are likely this weekend in the backcountry, so you'll need to use extra caution and continue to avoid and stay out from under steep slopes with recent deposits of drifted snow and large ridge top cornices...
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports another 6" of accumulation or so, with .5" SWE in the last 24 hours and 4.3" of SWE from the storm. Temperatures cooled to 13º F this morning and there's 88" of total snow containing 108% of average SWE for the date. It's 7º F, at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. Northwest winds are diminishing a bit, currently averaging around 20 mph, with a recent 40 mph gust.
Cool temperatures and occasional scattered snow showers will linger through the weekend and into early next week as broad troughing continues across the west. A stronger storm system may impact the state late next week. 1 to 3 inches of accumulation is possible today. High temperatures at 8500' expected to be around 19º F, with 15-20 mph west winds. Tonight 1 to 3 inches of accumulation is possible, temperatures will be around 8º F, with 15 mph west winds. Mostly cloudy tomorrow, with high temperatures around 19º F, and light and variable winds.
Numerous natural avalanches involving heavy, drifted, and rain-saturated snow were observed Thursday and yesterday on slopes at all elevations across the Logan Zone.
This large natural hard slab avalanche was observed yesterday afternoon in upper Providence Canyon. The crown looks to be 6 or 7 feet deep and it's about 1000' wide.
- Snowboard riders report easily triggering a few soft slab avalanches involving heavy new snow on the Beaver Mountain Backside Thursday. Remember the Backside is the backcountry. Nobody does avalanche control, and you could certainly trigger dangerous avalanches.
- The groomer reports several large natural avalanches on the trails east of Hardware Ranch on the Saddle Creek trail between the Danish Dugway and Strawberry Valley.
- On Tuesday I could see evidence of a recent large and deep natural hard slab avalanche in upper Mill Hollow on a mostly north facing slope at around 8900' in elevation.
Avalanches are dangerous, and sadly there have been four people killed in Utah in the past few weeks. For more info go...
HERE There have also been numerous close calls and natural avalanches. Our list is
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