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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Friday morning, March 31, 2023
People should avoid being in backcountry avalanche terrain, and stay clear of avalanche runouts. There is HIGH danger in drifted terrain and on slopes that received significant accumulations of new snow. Dangerous conditions are found on slopes steeper than 30° at all elevations in the backcountry, and periods of heavy snowfall and drifting will continue to elevate the danger.
  • We advise that you stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30°
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Avalanche Warning
Heavy snowfall and strong winds have created dangerous avalanche conditions in the backcountry. Both human triggered and natural avalanches are likely. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
Weather and Snow
Long running natural avalanches are likely. Large cornice falls are possible, and these or people are likely to trigger 1 to 3-foot thick slab avalanches of wind drifted snow. Soft slab and loose avalanches of storm snow are likely at all elevations, even in sheltered terrain, and wet avalanches entraining big piles of moist new snow are possible at lower elevations.
Heavy snowfall and drifting snow will continue to elevate backcountry avalanche danger today.
The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 13 inches of new snow overnight. It's 21° F and there is 153" of total snow. The wind is blowing from the west around 25 mph (with gusts close to 50 mph) at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station.
Here is the NWS point forecast (36 hrs) for high elevations in the Central Bear River Range:
Today: Snow before noon, then snow showers, mainly after noon. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 28. Wind chill values as low as 4. Breezy, with a west wind 24 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Wind chill values as low as 2. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of snow after noon. Increasing clouds, with a high near 35. Wind chill values as low as 6. Windy, with a southwest wind 23 to 33 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Unsettled, cold, and snowy weather will continue well into next week.
Recent Avalanches
  • Widespread natural (direct action) avalanche activity occurred during each of the last few storms in the Logan Zone.
  • For a list of recent avalanches in the Logan Zone go HERE
  • It was a bit more active in the Wasatch Range in the last few days due to wind drifted snow. Find a list of all recent observations & avalanches from across Utah HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
This morning, west winds continue to drift tons fresh snow into lee slope avalanche starting zones. If we were to go into upper elevation terrain we would find very dangerous conditions with huge sensitive cornices and deep freshly formed wind slabs.
  • Large natural cornice falls and 2' to 4' thick soft wind slabs are likely for people to trigger in windy terrain at upper and mid elevations.
  • Avoid corniced slopes and stiffer drifts on steep slopes near ridges and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, mid-slope break-overs, and gully walls.
  • The overhanging cornices on the high ridges are huge this year, and recent storms have built them further out and made them unstable, so people should continue to stay well away and out from under them.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Soft slab and loose avalanches of storm snow are likely at mid and upper elevations, even in generally sheltered terrain where significant new snow accumulated overnight. Natural avalanches are most likely during periods of very heavy snowfall and drifting, but they could be triggered by cornice falls or tree bombs even as the storm subsides this afternoon.
Dangerous conditions are also found at low elevations, especially in very steep northerly facing terrain including on shady forested slopes. ​​​​​​Warm temperatures and rain on the snow elevated the danger of wet loose avalanches entraining large piles of moist snow. Wet avalanches may be possible in unexpected places. We have seen numerous wet avalanches at low elevations this year even in places where we've not really seen any avalanches before.
Additional Information
Very large and long running natural avalanches occurred in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness with the last storm. (N Hell Canyon, 3-25-23)
General Announcements
  • Please submit your observations from the backcountry HERE.
  • For a list of avalanche classes from the Utah Avalanche Center go HERE
  • For information on where you can ride your sled or snow-bike, check out this map of the winter travel plan for the Logan and Ogden Ranger Districts HERE, and a close up of the Tony Grove and Franklin Basin Areas HERE.
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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