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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Thursday morning, February 9, 2023
Heightened avalanche conditions exist at all elevations in the backcountry, small avalanches are possible, and the danger is MODERATE on drifted slopes steeper than 30°. Areas of CONSIDERABLE danger can be found on drifted upper elevation slopes facing north, east, and south, where people are more likely to trigger larger 1 to 3 feet thick slab avalanches of wind drifted snow. We've found mostly stable snow and nice powder in sheltered terrain and at lower elevations.
  • Make conservative decisions, especially in upper elevation terrain. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Weather and Snow
Heightened avalanche conditions exist currently in drifted terrain at all elevations, where people could trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow. The probability and potential size of triggered avalanches is much greater on drifted upper elevation slopes, and much less down lower and where the snow was not affected by the wind. Loose avalanches entraining moist surface snow are possible in sunny terrain today.
Winds at the CSI Logan Peak weather station are blowing from the west at around 17 mph, and it's 5° F at 9700'. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 9° F, 5 inches of new snow from yesterday, and 102 inches of total snow.
Today will be sunny, with high temperatures at 8500' around 20°F, moderate winds from the northwest, and wind chill values as low as -7° F.
Tonight, expect low temperatures around 6° F and moderate west winds producing wind chill values around -2° F.
Tomorrow will be mostly sunny and a bit warmer, with high temperatures expected to reach 30° F, and moderate winds will blow out of the southwest.
Heading into the weekend looks like fairly quiet weather with some sun, a few clouds, and continued cool temperatures with daytime highs staying below freezing in the mountains. The next winter storm will hold off until around Tuesday.
Recent Avalanches
Observers report extensive drifting yesterday at all elevations. Lots cracking in wind affected terrain as well, and a couple parties report small wind slab avalanches, both intentionally and unintentionally triggered.
For a list of local avalanches go HERE Find a list of all recent observations & avalanches from across Utah HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Yesterday's strong winds out of the west were more than strong enough to drift existing powder and new snow into soft and harder wind slabs. Significant drifting occurred and it elevated avalanche danger in exposed terrain at all elevations, especially up high. In some areas, recent winds built stiffer slabs on weak surface snow consisting of small-grained faceted snow and perhaps surface hoar. These are fairly shallow but remain sensitive, with shooting cracks observed yesterday, and both intentionally and unintentionally triggered avalanches of wind drifted snow. Although easy to forget about, there are also areas where deeper buried persistent weak layers are present.
  • Fresh wind slabs having formed on weak surface snow are likely to be pretty sensitive to human triggers, and some avalanches today might be remotely triggered, from a distance.
  • Avoid corniced slopes and stiffer drifts on steep slopes near ridges and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, mid-slope break-overs, and gully walls.
  • The good news is that shallow powder riding conditions remain excellent in lower angled, lower elevation, and sheltered terrain.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Small loose avalanches entraining sun moistened surface snow are possible on steep sunny slopes in the middle of the day. These could get pretty big on sustained slopes, and could be a problem if a person were to be swept into trees, gullies, or other terrain traps.
Additional Information
Potential booby traps exist in the backcountry, cornices and stiffer wind slabs that formed on weak surface snow. This from Tuesday in Wood Camp. (Benson)
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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