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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Paige Pagnucco
Issued by Paige Pagnucco on
Sunday morning, March 31, 2024
The avalanche danger is MODERATE this morning with heightened avalanche conditions in drifted mid and upper-elevation terrain. You could trigger soft slab avalanches of drifted storm snow 1 to 2 feet thick on slopes steeper than 30° as well as loose snow sluffs in steep terrain. The danger could increase to CONSIDERABLE in upper-elevation terrain and natural avalanches could become possible during periods of intense snowfall and/or strong winds.
Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding, and conservative decision-making are essential tools for staying safe today - mainly in upper-elevation terrain that has received feet of snow and is exposed to the wind.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
Same deal as yesterday for Easter Sunday - heavy snowfall this morning with gradual clearing in the afternoon will create good spring powder riding across the zone. We found a mixed bag of conditions yesterday including heavy snowfall, clearing, almost blue sky, rapid warm-up, green housing, fog, light snowfall, and rain (below 7500'). Snow depths from the past few storms range from 6" to over 2+'. We are not tracking any weak layers so instabilities are located within the top couple of feet of snow. It's spring in Utah; anything goes weather-wise and conditions can change rapidly. The biggest concerns today are soft wind slabs and new snow sluffs. Avalanche danger could increase during periods of intense snowfall and/or strong winds.
The Tony Grove Lake Snotel at 8400' reports .9 inches of SWE (snow water equivalent) in the past 24 hours and it's beginning to snow again this morning. It's 31° F this morning, and there is 108 inches of total snow at the site containing 123% of normal snow water equivalent. At 05:00 on Logan Peak, winds are blowing from the south in the teens mph gusting into the 20's mph, and it's 26° F at 9700'. At our new Paris Peak weather station at 9500', it's 24 °F, and the wind is blowing from the south-southeast 3 to 5 mph. It's 28° F at our new Card Canyon weather station at 8800' and there is 93 inches of total snow.
We'll see snowfall this morning with gradual clearing this afternoon. The mountains could pick up 4-8" of snow but it could be less or more depending on where you are. 8500' high temperatures will be about 34° F and winds will blow from the south southeast 5 to 10 mph and then southwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Light snow showers continue tonight into tomorrow. There is a 20% chance of snow tomorrow morning but the system will be moving on and we should see partly sunny skies. High pressure builds in for Tuesday through Wednesday with strong sunshine and warm temperatures.
Recent Avalanches
We noticed several loose snow sluffs yesterday that likely occurred during the morning's high PI rate.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
You could trigger soft slab avalanches of drifted snow, especially in northerly and 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 wind-loaded 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.
  • Practice safe travel protocols to avoid exposing more than one person to avalanche danger.
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, soft slabs or loose avalanches in steep terrain could carry you into potential terrain traps below, like trees, gullies, sinks, or cliff bands. These avalanches are avoided by not traveling on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. The chances of this type of avalanche occurring increase during periods of intense snowfall and/or strong winds.
  • The sun is supposed to stay hidden again today but the potential for wet avalanches exists. It barely froze overnight so, if you are sinking deeply into wet/moist snow, move to a lower-angle slope or cooler aspect or elevation. If the sun does pop out for even a short bit, the risk of wet avalanches will increase rapidly.
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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