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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
LOW: The snow is stable and avalanches are unlikely. Overnight temperatures dropped well below freezing at all stations, but as usual, daytime solar warming will cause increasing danger of wet avalanches. Human triggered avalanches of wet snow are possible in the midday heat on steep slopes with melt softened saturated snow. An early start will allow you to be off the snow before it gets too soft.
  • Use normal caution. Avoid travel in runout gullies and stay off and out from under steep sunny slopes during the heat of the day.
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Special Announcements
Enjoy spring skiing at Snowbasin Resort. The UAC has discount Snowbasin tickets available. HERE
Weather and Snow
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 27ºF this morning and there is 84" of total snow with 103% of average SWE for the date. It's 24ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and northeast winds are currently averaging around 13 mph. The snow is stable on most slopes this morning, but warming from strong March sun may create heightened wet avalanche conditions in the middle of the day on some steep slopes with saturated, melt-softened snow.

The next storm system will arrive midweek, with impacts primarily across the southern and central portions of the forecast area. Another storm system will follow by late this weekend. It'll be mostly sunny in the mountains today. High temperatures at 8500' expected be around 41ºF, with 10 to 18 mph northeast winds, veering from the southeast in the afternoon. It will be mostly clear tonight, with low temperatures around 14º F, and increasing, 20 mph east-southeast winds. It will be sunny and breezy tomorrow, with high temperatures around 42ºF, and 18 to 21 mph east-southeast winds.
Recent Avalanches
There were a few midday natural wet avalanches in the area over the weekend, but these are to be expected as the winter snow is warmed up by the strong March sun. No new avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone and it was quite busy in the backcountry.
A skier remote triggered a 8" deep and 200' wide avalanche running on a persistent weak layer on a northwest facing slope at about 8800' on James Peak in the Southern Bear River Range on Saturday. Report is HERE.
This intentionally triggered shallow soft slab avalanche failed on surface hoar with energy several feet below a slope cut.
Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Avoid and stay out from under large ridge top cornices, which might calve off during the midday heat and could trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
  • Always practice safe travel protocols. Go one-at-a-time while the rest of your party watches from a safe place.
  • Check your safety equipment before you head out. Be sure shovel and probe are in good working order and can be assembled. Change the batteries in your beacon.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Avalanches of wet snow will become increasingly possible today in sunny terrain as snow becomes melt-softened and saturated. Roller balls, pin wheels, and small natural sluffs indicate potential for loose wet avalanches. You can avoid this problem by getting an early start and leaving the mountains early in the day, before the snow gets too warm.
Additional Information
I will update this forecast Wednesday 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, USU Outdoor Program, and Beaver Mountain Ski Patrol for helping us to make this possible.
General Announcements
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
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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 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.