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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
You'll find excellent cold powder conditions and MODERATE avalanche danger in the backcountry. Periods of heavy snowfall and breezy winds blowing from the southwest will keep today's avalanche danger elevated, especially in drifted upper-elevation terrain. Human-triggered avalanches are possible, with avalanches of wind-drifted snow and cornice falls most likely in drifted upper elevation terrain. Small soft slabs and loose avalanches are possible on slopes steeper than 30° at all elevations with significant accumulations of new snow.
Now is not a good time to let your guard down despite the nice powder conditions. Continue to use normal caution; avalanche accidents are quite common in March.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
Yesterday was breezy and snowfall was heavy at times, although we did not see much accumulation on the storm boards (.3" SWE at Tony Grove). We found excellent cold powder riding conditions and good snow stability yesterday in the Central Bear River Range, but poor visibility prevented us from seeing much high drifted terrain. We found 1 to 2 feet of fresh powder capping a widespread dirty and solid crust layer from the warm winds of leap day and March 1st
We have another breezy, snowy, and cold day on tap today that will keep avalanche danger elevated, especially on upper-elevation slopes loaded by the recent strong winds. In drifted terrain, people could trigger 1 to 3-foot thick avalanches of wind-drifted snow, and falling cornices could trigger wind slab avalanches on steep slopes below.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports only 3 inches of new snow yesterday, but it seemed like a bit more. It's 14° F and there's 109 inches of total snow containing around 125% of average SWE (snow water equivalent). About 5" of new snow accumulated yesterday at our new Card Canyon weather station and there is 88" of total snow at around 8800' in elevation. At 6:00 this morning winds are blowing from the south-southwest at 32 mph with gusts to 46 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. At 9500' on Paris Peak, winds are blowing 13 mph from the south-southwest, and it's a chilly 6° F.
Today will bring similar weather to yesterday's. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Northern Bear River Range (north of the state line). Expect a wintery day in the mountains with high temperatures around 28° F at 8500' and winds blowing from the southwest increasing this morning to 25 to 30 mph. The NWS forecast calls for a possibility of 9 to 17 inches of accumulation on upper elevation slopes today and tonight. Another 5 to 9 inches might accumulate tomorrow, with slightly diminished winds more from the west and a high temperature around 32° F.
A short-lived high pressure starts to move in later in the week, and it looks like fair weather for the coming weekend.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches were reported recently, but visibility has been limited. Everyone has noted the strong winds from the south and west drifting lots of snow every day since the end of February.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
With more wind moving more snow today, natural and human-triggered avalanches of wind-drifted snow are possible in steep, drifted terrain. Very strong winds over the last several days loaded snow onto leeward terrain, creating thick wind slabs and building out already large overhanging 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 hidden from view by a few inches of fresh powder. These could be stubborn, allowing a person to get far out on them before releasing.
  • Softer wind slabs forming in the fresh snow today may be quite sensitive.
  • Shooting cracks are a sign of unstable snow.
  • Stay well away from and out from under overhanging cornices, which may break further back and be much larger than expected.
  • Natural or human-triggered cornice falls could be very large, and some could trigger wind slab avalanches on slopes below.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Small soft slab avalanches and sluffs of new snow are possible at all elevations on slopes steeper than 30° with significant recent accumulations.
  • In steep terrain, watch for terrain traps below that small avalanches could carry you into; like trees, gullies, benches, sinks, or cliff bands.
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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