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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Paige Pagnucco
Issued by Paige Pagnucco for
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Heavy snowfall and strong winds blowing from the west-southwest will keep today's avalanche danger CONSIDERABLE, especially in drifted terrain. Natural avalanches of wind-drifted snow and storm snow are possible, and large cornice falls are likely. Fresh hard or soft wind slabs may be found on all aspects. People venturing into avalanche terrain are likely to trigger avalanches on slopes steeper than 30°.
  • Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making are essential for safe backcountry travel.
  • Avoid and stay out from under steep drifted slopes, overhanging cornices, and avalanche runouts.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
What a day yesterday! The weather finally delivered with thunder, lightning, hail, snow, and strong winds during the midday frontal passage. Logan Peak measured a 91 MPH gust at noon! The mountains picked up well over a foot of snow, with much more in favored areas. More wind and snow today will keep the avalanche danger elevated as human-triggered avalanches of wind-drifted and new snow are likely. Cornices are getting quite big and sensitive to a person's weight; falling cornices could trigger an avalanche on the slope below. New snow is stacking up and you could trigger a soft slab or loose avalanche in very steep terrain. Remember, most fatalities occur when the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. With continued snowfall and wind today, the best and safest riding conditions will be on sheltered slopes less than 30°.
Beaver Mountain's webcams are showing moderate snowfall again this morning, and their snow stake has about 9" of settled snow. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 11° F and 109 inches of total snow containing around 124% of normal SWE (snow water equivalent). It's 8°F and there is 84 inches of total snow at our new Card Canyon weather station at 8750', a bit north of Logan Peak. Winds calmed overnight and are blowing from the south-southeast at the CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700' in elevation. They are blowing about 25 mph with gusts to 34 mph at 6:00 am. At our other new weather station at 9500' on Paris Peak, winds are much lighter, blowing from the south-southwest at 8 mph with gusts in the teens, and it's a chilly 4° F.
The National Weather Service has continued a Winter Storm Warning for the Logan Zone through 5:00 pm today. It will be quite stormy again, with heavy snowfall and blowing snow. Winds blowing from the southwest 15 to 25 mph will increase to 25 to 35 mph as the day progresses. Mountain high temperatures will climb into the teens but the winds will make it feel very cold. 6 to 10 inches of accumulation is possible on upper-elevation slopes. Snowfall is expected to continue through the week with 3 to 5 inches expected tomorrow and then a bigger storm rolls in Tuesday night into Wednesday. The snow should remain soft in sheltered terrain and riding conditions excellent throughout the week.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches were reported yesterday but, given the powerful weather, I imagine there was some natural activity.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Natural and human-triggered avalanches of wind-drifted snow are likely in drifted terrain. Very strong winds over the last couple of days loaded snow onto leeward terrain and built out already large cornices.
  • Watch for and avoid stiffer wind drifts on the lee side of major ridges, on corniced slopes, and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, gully walls, and mid-slope rollovers.
  • Stiff wind slabs could be stubborn, allowing a person to get well out on them before releasing. Softer wind slabs forming today will be sensitive.
Avalanche Problem #2
Cornice
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Natural cornice falls are likely today, and some could trigger wind slab avalanches on slopes below.
  • Stay well away from and out from under overhanging cornices, which may break further back and be much larger than expected.

Avalanche Problem #3
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Periods of heavy snowfall are expected again today, and soft slab and loose avalanches of storm snow may become likely on steep slopes that are less affected by the wind and have significant accumulations.
  • Natural avalanches of storm snow are most likely during periods of very heavy snowfall or extreme drifting.
  • Find a no-consequence test slope to see how well the new snow is bonding.
General Announcements
-Listen to your very own Logan Zone avalanche forecasters on the UAC Podcast HERE.
-Read my recent 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 update this forecast by 7:30 AM tomorrow.
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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