Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains
Issued by Toby Weed on
Sunday morning, March 29, 2020
Sunday morning, March 29, 2020
Heightened conditions exist, there's MODERATE danger, and it's still possible for people to trigger soft slab avalanches of drifted snow on steep upper elevation slopes. Loose wet avalanches could become possible in the heat of the day.
- Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
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The UAC encourages everyone to follow direction from federal, state, city and county officicals. The following is from Joe Dougherty, spokesman for the Utah Division of Emergency Management:
Though outdoor recreation is still permitted under the governor’s Stay Safe/Stay Home directive, we recommend that people maintain a distance of at least 6 feet.
Be extra cautious to avoid injuries outdoors. We are working with our hospital systems to conserve as much personal protective equipment as possible in case of hospitalizations.
Most outdoor injuries can be prevented. Know the conditions and know your limits so you don’t end up in a hospital.
Weather and Snow
It's 21°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, and 2 inches of light new snow fell yesterday and overnight. There is now 95 inches of total snow with 111% of normal Snow Water Equivalent. It's 17°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and winds are currently light and variable after blowing about 10 mph from the west-southwest overnight.
Powder conditions stayed good in north facing terrain yesterday, and you might still be able to find areas with nice snow again today. The sun may come out from behind the clouds for a while, greenhousing may occur, and temperatures will be a bit warmer today than than they were yesterday, leading to potential for wet avalanche activity in steep terrain.
- Evaluate terrain carefully and continue to practice safe travel protocols to minimize your risk. Staying on slopes less than 30 degrees is the best way to avoid problems.
An upper level trough along the west coast will weaken as it tracks east across the Great Basin through tonight. A series of weak weather disturbances will graze far northern Utah during the first half of the upcoming week.
Snow showers are likely in the mountains today, with some thunder possible. It'll be partly sunny with 8500' high temperatures of around 37°F and 6 to 11 mph east-southeast winds veering from the southwest in the afternoon. It will be mostly cloudy in the mountains tonight, with snow showers and a chance of thunder. Low temperatures are expected to be around 22°F with west-southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Snow showers are likely tomorrow. It will be partly cloudy with high temperatures near 37°F, and west-southwest winds will blow 7 to 16 mph. Snow should accumulate in the mountains Monday night and Tuesday, with 6 to 12 inches possible.
Recent Avalanches
A skier intentionally triggered a slab avalanche of wind drifted snow on an upper elevation north facing slope in Mill Hollow yesterday afternoon. Earlier, the party had been skiing north facing terrain in the area without seeing any red flags, but the stiffer snow on the slope was obviously wind drifted.
On Friday, a very experienced rider triggered a soft slab avalanche and was thrown off his sled in Three Terraces Bowl on the east side of Providence Peak.
Several human-triggered avalanches were reported Thursday in the Central Bear River Range and one in Providence Canyon. Most were 12-16 inches deep, 50-100 feet wide and ran between 300-500 vertical feet. These were soft wind slab avalanches of new snow on east facing high elevation slopes, failing on the storm/older snow interface (with graupel) and running on a crust from last week's warm weather.
In some areas the new snow stabilized quickly while on east facing slopes the new snow was still sensitive and reactive Thursday morning in the Central Bear River Range.
Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
With several human triggered avalanches reported and drifted new snow obviously failing to stabilize quickly in some areas, it might still be possible to trigger a 1 to 2 foot deep slab avalanche today on a very steep slope. This problem exists mainly at high elevations on slopes facing the eastern half of the compass (N-NE-E-SE-S) where moderate winds have deposited this week's storm snow.
- Watch for cracking as a sign of instability.
- Avoid stiffer, recently drifted snow near the ridge tops, on corniced slopes, and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and cliff bands.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Clouds and cool temperatures should keep natural wet avalanche activity to a minimum again today, but possible green-housing and seasonal warmth could create heightened loose wet avalanche conditions in steep terrain.
- If the snow where you are gets warm and sticky or slushy, you should move off and out from under steep slopes.
Additional Information
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.
General Announcements
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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 tomorrow morning.