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

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Elevated avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist in drifted upper and mid elevation terrain. People could trigger slab avalanches of wind drifted snow, and some of these could fail on a persistent weak layer buried 1 to 3 feet deep. Loose avalanches entraining significant volumes of moist snow are possible in very steep sunny terrain. Large avalanches are unlikely and the danger mostly LOW at lower elevations, in areas where the wind has not effected the snow, and in most northerly facing terrain.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully
Low
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Considerable
High
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Weather and Snow
You'll still find really nice powder at all elevations in the backcountry, although sun moistened/crusted the snow surface on southerly facing slopes. I've noted lots of settlement in the recent snow, and stable conditions exist in most areas. The exceptions may be avalanches in drifted terrain failing on a persistent weak layer buried 1 to 3 feet deep....small sugary grains of faceted snow, often associated with a thin sun-crust.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports more than 8 feet of total snow and 17° F. The CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700' is showing winds blowing from the west this morning around 23 mph and 17° F.
Today will be sunny, temperatures at 8500' will top out around 27° F, and moderate winds blowing from the west.
Tonight: We'll see increasing clouds, a low temperature around 14° F and winds blowing from the southwest around 10 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Increasing southwest wind around 15 mph.
Looks like gradual warming will continue through the weekend, with snow likely Sunday and Monday.
Recent Avalanches
  • Tuesday, a party of skiers triggered a soft slab avalanche in the Mount Naomi Wilderness, that swept by and narrowly missed the first skier who was waiting for their partner. HERE and a short video
  • Saturday, hikers remotely triggered a large hard wind slab avalanche on an east facing slope at around 7700' near the Bear Lake Overlook. The avalanche was 3 to 4 feet deep and close to 200' wide. Report is HERE.
  • A widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred across the Logan Zone late Saturday night and Sunday morning, and numerous avalanches can be seen in the Wellsville and Bear River Mountains. Of note are large natural avalanches observed in the Mount Naomi Wilderness, Smithfield Dry, Wood Camp, and on Mt. Magog, which included large slab avalanches 2 to 3 feet deep and hundreds of feet wide. Magog Avalanche report is HERE
Find a list of all recent observations & avalanches from across Utah HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
There are areas where weak surface snow was buried and preserved by light powder last week. We're finding a buried persistent weak layer consisting of sugary faceted snow, in many cases associated with a thin sun-crust that formed on January 23, and buried and preserved by light snow on 1-25. The layer is buried one to three feet deep by last weekend's storm. A party of skiers triggered an avalanche failing on this PWL on Tuesday. Conditions have become more stable in recent days, but people should be aware that this persistent weak layer still may be active in some areas. I plan to avoid being on big slopes in drifted terrain for a few more days.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
People could trigger slab avalanches of wind drifted storm snow up to three feet thick in drifted terrain. Sustained winds from the west enlarged cornices and built fresh wind slabs. Fresh wind slabs can most certainly be a problem on their own, and there is tons of super soft snow for the winds to pick up and drift. Also, some wind slabs formed during last weekend's storm on the 1/23 PWL and could still be pretty touchy.
  • Avoid corniced slopes and stiffer drifts on steep slopes near ridges and in and around terrain features like under cliff bands, sub-ridges, mid-slope break-overs, and gully walls.
Avalanche Problem #3
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Loose avalanches entraining powder snow remain possible on very steep slopes at all elevations. Despite the cold temperatures, on sheltered sunny slopes wet (or moist) sluffs entraining lots soft snow are possible as the powerful sun moistens the new snow surface.
  • On sustained slopes loose avalanches can pick up speed and volume pretty quickly.
  • You should stay out from under your partners and other parties and avoid very steep terrain where you could be swept into trees, gullies or other terrain traps.
Additional Information
General Announcements
  • Please submit your observations from the backcountry HERE.
  • For a list of avalanche classes from the Utah Avalanche Center go HERE
  • For information on where you can ride your sled or snowbike, check out this map of the winter travel plan for the Logan and Ogden Ranger Districts HERE, and a close up of the Tony Grove and Franklin Basin Areas HERE.
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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