Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains
Issued by Toby Weed on
Monday morning, March 23, 2020
Monday morning, March 23, 2020
Clouds, wind, and perhaps a few thunder storms this afternoon should help keep the snow cool, but the avalanche danger will once again increase to MODERATE as daytime temperatures rise in the backcountry. People could trigger shallow wet avalanches entraining a few inches of surface snow, and naturals are possible, especially if the sun comes out from behind clouds for a little while today. Although difficult for a person to trigger, wet avalanches gouging loose saturated snow to the ground are possible at low elevations on very steep slopes.
- Evaluate snow and terrain carefully
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
UAC operating schedule - We will continue issuing regular avalanche forecasts into mid April.
Spring Awareness Campaign - The UAC counts on donations from the backcountry community. We know these are uncertain times and any donation during our awareness campaign will help us continue providing avalanche forecasting and education.
CDC Guidelines - Even in the backcountry and in parking lots, please follow CDC guidelines like limiting group size and keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from other people to protect yourself and others. Read the guidelines HERE.
Taking risks - Be extra conservative to avoid the risk of accidents which can stress the capacity of our medical system.
Skiing and riding at closed ski resorts - Some resorts allow access now and some do not. Please check HERE for the latest info on ski area access.
New to the backcountry (including riding at closed resorts) - Watch the award-winning, 15 minute Know Before You Go video, or take the 5-part, free online-learning series.
Weather and Snow
It's 25°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel. About 3 inches of new snow fell in the last 24 hours at the site, and there is 89 inches of total snow, containing 109% of normal Snow Water Equivalent. It's 20°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and southwest winds are currently blowing about 17 mph.
People could trigger wet avalanches in steep terrain during the heat of the day today. Lower elevation snow is melting fast and the saturated snow in some areas is too soft. Shallow natural and triggered wet avalanches consisting of fresh snow are likely today in upper and mid elevation sunny terrain, but they should stay pretty small. Although they might be hard to trigger, wet avalanches on northerly facing slopes on lower elevation slopes could gouge all the snow out to the ground, and involve deep piles of heavy wet snow.
We found nice spring powder on northerly facing slopes yesterday afternoon.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for our area from tomorrow afternoon through Thursday evening. A storm system will spread moisture across southern, central and eastern Utah today. A colder and stronger system will impact mainly northern Utah late Tuesday into Wednesday, then the remainder of the state Thursday into Friday.
Snow showers are possible this afternoon and so is some thunder, but it will be partly sunny today, with 8500' high temperatures close 40°F and 8 to 16 mph south-southwest wind. Snow showers are likely tonight, with 1 to 3 inches possible. Low temperatures are expected to be around 21°F and west-southwest winds will blow around 17 mph. Snow and thunder showers are likely tomorrow, with 3 to 5 inches of snow possible. High temperatures will be near 36°F and west-southwest winds will blow 13 to 16 mph.
Clouds and a cool breeze kept a few inches of new snow at upper elevations nice and dry yesterday.
Recent Avalanches
Yesterday, we noticed a sizable natural cornice fall avalanche off the south ridge of Mt. Magog on an east facing slope at around 9400' and some long running natural loose wet avalanches in Logan Dry Canyon, (SW @ 8000')
Observers report triggering small slabs of wind drifted snow as well as loose avalanches of dry and moist surface snow at upper elevations this weekend.
This 1' x 20' rider triggered soft slab avalanche occurred Friday, 3-20-2020.
A skier intentionally triggered a loose wet avalanche in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness Saturday, 3-21-2020.
Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
- Sun may pop out from behind the clouds today, and the new snow will quickly become moist with warm temperatures. People could trigger small loose wet avalanches consisting of moist surface snow on steep upper elevation slopes, where a few inches of fresh snow accumulated. Some small natural wet activity is also possible in steep sunny terrain.
- The snow on northerly facing slopes at lower elevations and on some mid elevation slopes is melt-softened and saturated throughout, and although difficult to trigger, people might initiate loose wet avalanches that gouge to the ground and produce large piles of heavy debris.
General Announcements
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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.
We will update this forecast before about 7:30 Wednesday morning.