Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains
Issued by Toby Weed on
Saturday morning, February 8, 2020
Saturday morning, February 8, 2020
Dangerous avalanche conditions and CONSIDERABLE danger exist on many slopes in the backcountry today. People are likely to trigger 1 to 3 foot deep avalanches of wind drifted new snow on upper and mid elevation slopes, and these could run fast and far. Natural wet avalanches are possible on steep slopes with soft and saturated snow at lower elevations.
- Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Use caution while route-finding, and make conservative decisions.
- Avoid travel on and under steep slopes with drifted or saturated snow, and stay clear of avalanche run-out zones.
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Weather and Snow
It's 29°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, and there is a few inches of wet new snow with 1.3" of Snow Water Equivalent in the last 24 hours. There is now 90 inches of total snow, containing 140% of normal SWE. West winds continued to be strong overnight, and are currently blowing close to 30 mph, with a 56 mph gust early this morning at the CSI Logan Peak weather station, and it's 22°F at 9700'.
Accumulations of very heavy snow, rain at lower elevations, and sustained strong westerly winds have created dangerous avalanche conditions in the backcountry. Large and long running human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible. People should continue to stay off and out from under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees and well clear of obvious and historic avalanche run out zones.
It will snow in the mountains again today, with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation possible by this evening. 8500' temperatures are expected to drop to around 16°F by afternoon, with 23 to 29 mph west-southwest winds. Tonight, snow showers will tapper off and it'll be cloudy, with low temperatures around 8°F, and decreasing 17 to 22 mph north-northwest winds. I'll be partly sunny tomorrow, with a high temperature near 16°F and 10 to 13 mph northwest winds, veering from the east-southeast in the morning.
Recent Avalanches
Natural wet avalanches hit highway 89 in the Dugway Area of Logan Canyon and forced it's closure around 3:00 yesterday afternoon. The highway was closed for a couple hours so crews could clear the debris.
We easily and intentionally triggered a good sized avalanche Thursday in Hatties Bowl above Rick Springs in Logan Canyon. The 1' deep and 100' wide avalanche cracked released after we dropped a very small chunk of cornice on it.
Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
West winds continued overnight, and there is plenty of fresh heavy new snow to move around. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on drifted upper and mid elevation slopes today, people are likely to trigger avalanches of wind drifted new snow, and natural avalanches are possible.
- Watch for and avoid fresh 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.
Shooting cracks like this from yesterday are a sure sign of instability.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Rain saturated the snow on lower elevation slopes yesterday, and wet avalanches are likely as long as temperatures remain above freezing. Natural wet avalanches are possible in low elevation areas where they may impact unsuspecting people who don't normally encounter avalanches, like runners, dog walkers, and fishermen.
Numerous natural avalanches occurred yesterday afternoon in Logan Canyon, some hit the highway and others ran into the Logan River. More natural loose wet avalanches are possible today as daytime temperatures at low elevations are forecast to remain well above freezing.
Additional Information
Here's what we saw in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness earlier in the week.
Dangerous roof avalanches are possible due to warming temperatures and rain at lower elevations in the Bear Lake Area and other in snowy mountain valley areas where heavy snow has built up on roofs.
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.