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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
CONSIDERABLE: Significant accumulations of heavy snow and drifting from sustained southwest winds have caused dangerous conditions and avalanches to be likely at upper and mid elevations. Slab avalanches consisting of wind drifted snow and large cornice falls are most likely on upper elevation north, northeast, and east facing slopes. A HIGH danger may still exist in some areas. Slopes with buried persistent weak layers were overloaded by heavy drifted snow, increasing the chances of triggering dangerous deep hard slab avalanches.
  • Make conservative decisions and evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
  • Stay off and out from under ridge-top cornices and steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Take time this winter to make avalanche education a priority for you and your backcountry partners. Join the UAC's Backcountry 101, Introduction to Avalanches Class this weekend at Powder Mountain. Get more details on the UAC Education page.
Weather and Snow
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports about 5 inches of cold snow in the last 24 hours, with .5" SWE. The station recorded a couple feet of heavy snow containing 3.4" of SWE in the past 4 days. It's 12º F this morning and there's 76" of total snow containing 98% of average SWE for the date. It's 4º F, at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. Northwest winds are currently averaging around 15 mph.
A cold Pacific storm system is crossing Utah today. Snow and much colder temperatures will accompany this storm through tonight, with the cold air lingering after the storm exits the state late in the week. Today in the Logan Zone, it'll be mostly cloudy and snow some in the mountains, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. Temperatures at 8500' are expected to be around 15º F, and northwest winds will blow 15 to 20 mph. Tonight, we'll see a bit more snow, with 1 to 2 inches possible. Temperatures will fall to around -3º F and 13 to 16 mph north-northwest wind will cause wind chills around 17º F below zero. It'll be partly sunny tomorrow with high temperatures near 11º F and 5 to 10 mph west-northwest winds.
Recent Avalanches
Poor visibility has prevented views of suspected recent natural activity in the Logan Zone, but I bet there has been some. Please report any activity as it becomes visible...
It has been active in the last few days across the state. Recent avalanche reports are on our avalanche page... HERE
UAC Forecasters Hardesty and Staples unintentionally triggered a large cornice which then initiated a scary hard slab avalanche running on a persistent weak layer near the ground in the Wasatch Range on Monday. report is HERE
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Dangerous conditions exist on drifted upper and mid elevation slopes. Human triggered avalanches, 2 to 3 feet deep and large cornice falls are likely today and natural avalanches are possible. Winds diminished and veered out of the northwest overnight, but after 3 days with strong and sustained south and southwest winds, the danger of avalanches caused by wind drifted snow is significant. Cornices are likely to break much further back than expected and could be quite large. Avalanches and cornice falls are most likely at upper elevations on slopes facing north, northeast, and east.
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The new snow did not bond well to last week's weak surface snow in some areas, and 2-foot-deep soft slab avalanches consisting of heavy new snow are possible even in sheltered terrain. Frost or feathery surface hoar and thick and thinner layers of small-grained near surface facets plagued the snow surface on many slopes before the storm. These are notorious persistent weak layers, and in some areas were buried intact, so the danger of avalanches failing on one will linger for a while.
The storm added a good deal of weight to slopes with poor snow structure and has increased the danger of avalanches failing on a deeper persistent weak layer. Buried layers of sugary faceted snow have likely been reactivated. Dangerous, 3 to 4-foot-deep hard slab avalanches are possible for people to trigger, especially on steep, recently drifted slopes with poor snow structure.
Additional Information
I will update this forecast Friday morning.
The new weather station at the WSU Bloomington Canyon Yurt is up and running. Data available HERE
Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. You should check out and use the new Avalanche Beacon Training Park we set up at the Franklin Basin trailhead. Special thanks to Northstars Ultimate Outdoors and USU Outdoor Program for helping us to make this possible.
General Announcements
Hope to see you at the CROWBAR backcountry ski race, planned for Saturday, 2/9. The fun ski mountaineering race will be held in the Swan Flats/Garden City Canyon Area. For more information go...HERE
The Beaver Mountain Backside is the backcountry, and it is avalanche terrain. Same goes for the steep rocky terrain adjacent to Cherry Peak Resort. If you leave a ski area boundary, you and your partners should carry and practice with avalanche rescue equipment and follow safe backcountry travel protocols.
Check out the improved weather links, road conditions, and weather links for each forecast region on the new UAC IOS App. Do you use the NOAA point forecast? If so, now you can bookmark your favorite weather locations in "My Weather" in the App. HERE
Are you new to the backcountry or looking to refresh your skills? The UAC has released a free 5-part avalanche skills eLearning series. HERE
If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you subscribe HERE.
Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at REI, Backcountry.com, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay by clicking on these links, they donate a portion of your purchase to the UAC. If you sell on eBay, you can have your See our Affiliate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop
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 call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram.
This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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