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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Friday morning, March 29, 2024
The danger is MODERATE with heightened avalanche conditions in drifted mid and upper-elevation terrain. People could trigger soft slab avalanches of drifted storm snow 1 to 2 feet thick on slopes steeper than 30°. Human-triggered sluffs are also possible in steep terrain, and if the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, loose wet avalanches entraining melt-saturated new snow could become a problem.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. The best and safest riding conditions will again be found in sheltered low-angled terrain.
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Weather and Snow
Today, people will find nice shallow powder riding conditions in the backcountry, especially in sheltered upper-elevation terrain. Several inches of new snow accumulated on upper and mid-elevation slopes across the zone, and winds that were pretty strong yesterday diminished significantly overnight. The most significant avalanche problem today will be potential small avalanches of wind-drifted snow. Yesterday's winds drifted the storm snow as it fell and created soft wind slabs in deceleration zones, lee slopes, and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, mid-slope rollovers, gullies, sinks, and cliff bands. If the sun pops out from behind the clouds for a little while, springlike temperatures could elevate the danger of loose wet avalanches in steep sunny terrain. You'll find safer and better riding conditions in the meadows and on sheltered, lower-angled slopes.
The Tony Grove Lake Snotel at 8400' reports 7 inches of nice new snow from yesterday's storm. It's 22° F this morning, and there is104 inches of total snow at the site containing 122% of normal snow water equivalent. At 6:00 on Logan Peak, light winds are blowing from the west at 9 mph, with gusts in the teens, and it's 17° F at 9700'.
At our new Paris Peak weather station at 9500', it's 16 °F, and the wind is blowing from the south 3 to 5 mph. It's 20° F at our new Card Canyon weather station at 8800', where nearly 7 inches of new snow accumulated yesterday, and there is now 91 inches of total snow.
Today will be mostly cloudy in the mountains, with a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. High temperatures at 8500' will be near 36° F, with light and variable winds in the morning, coming from the south-southwest in the afternoon.
Snowfall will resume late tonight and continue through tomorrow, with 6 to 14 inches of accumulation possible in upper-elevation terrain and moderate winds blowing from the south-southwest.
More snow is expected on Sunday, with 7 to 11 inches of accumulation possible up high.
Recent Avalanches
Numerous avalanches were triggered in the mountains above Salt Lake City in the past few days, including several that caught, carried, and even injured people. See the reports
It has been much less active locally, but on Wednesday, a snowmobiler remotely triggered a small wind slab avalanche from quite a distance on Cornice Ridge in the Central Bear River Range. Riders also triggered several other small wind slabs this week in drifted upper-elevation terrain.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
People could trigger soft slab avalanches of drifted snow, especially in easterly-facing upper-elevation terrain on slopes steeper than 30°. Avalanches could fail on the interface on top of last week's melt-freeze crust or a density change within the newer snow.
  • Avoid travel on slopes capped by large cornices on the lee side of major ridges.
  • Watch for stiffer drifted snow or wind slabs in and around terrain features like sub ridges, gully walls, mid-slope rollovers, scoops, and cliff bands.
  • In drifted terrain, watch for cracking and other obvious signs of instability, like recent avalanches on similar slopes.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
In steep, even sheltered terrain, you could trigger soft slabs or fast-moving sluffs of new snow.
  • Although generally manageable, shallow soft wind slab or loose avalanches in steep terrain could dangerously carry you into potential terrain traps below, like trees, gullies, sinks, or cliff bands.
  • If the sun comes out from behind the clouds, loose wet avalanches of melt-saturated new snow may become a problem. If the snow becomes damp and sticky or if you see roller balls, pinwheels, or small natural sluffs, you should move to more shady or lower-angled slopes, (less steep than about 30°).
Additional Information
A plume of drifting snow blew off Cornice Ridge and Castle Rock south of Naomi Peak Wednesday afternoon.
General Announcements
-National Forest Winter Recreation Travel Maps show where it's open to ride: UWCNF Logan, Ogden LRD Tony Grove, Franklin Basin CTNF Montpelier
-Listen to your very own Logan Zone avalanche forecasters on the UAC Podcast HERE.
-Read Toby's blog about wind, drifting, and avalanches HERE.
-Sign up for forecast region-specific text message alerts. You will receive messages about changing avalanche conditions, watches, and warnings...HERE.
-For all questions on forecasts, education, Know Before You Go, events, online purchases, or fundraising, call 801-365-5522.
-To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry, go HERE.
-Come practice companion rescue at the Franklin Basin TH Beacon Training Park. It's free and open to everyone. For easy user instructions, go HERE.
-We will issue regular daily updates of our forecast through April 14.
-We will update this forecast tomorrow by 7:30 AM.
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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