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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Monday morning, March 7, 2016

MODERATE (level 2): Heightened avalanche conditions exist and avalanches are possible on many slopes in the backcountry. You could trigger large cornice fall and/or wind slab avalanches in drifted upper elevation terrain. Some natural wet activity is possible with midday solar warming. Wet avalanches entraining significant moist new snow and gouging into saturated, rain and melt-softened old snow are possible at all elevations. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.

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Weather and Snow

It rained up above 8000' yesterday, and very wet snow accumulated up higher before the late afternoon cold front brought a drop in temperatures. A few inches of fresh "right-side-up" snow insulates saturated and slushy fresh snow from yesterday, which in some areas was apparently not bonding well with the old snow surface. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 24 degrees this morning and 3 or 4 inches of new snow containing .6" of water in the last 24 hours. There's 71 inches of total snow containing 94% of average water for the date. It's 16 degrees and at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, with diminishing west winds yesterday and overnight. Looks like the wind sensor may be covered in rime this morning...

Recent Avalanches
  • A party of riders triggered a fairly large loose wet avalanche in a steep north facing chute in the Tony Grove Area yesterday (3-6-2016). The avalanche flushed all the heavy new snow out of the upper part of the gully and gouged out old snow down to rocks lower down, leaving an impressive pile of debris in the apron.
    ***To view our updated list of backcountry observations and avalanche activity from around Utah, go to our observations page
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Heightened wind slab avalanche and cornice fall conditions exist in drifted upper elevation terrain.

  • Beware large overhanging ridge-top cornices, which could break further back than you expect and might trigger avalanches on drifted slopes below. Natural cornice falls are possible in some areas, especially during the heat of the day.
  • You could trigger wind slab avalanches on drifted upper elevation slopes. Avoid recent drifts on the lee sides of ridges, cross-loaded along sub-ridges, and in and around terrain features like rock outcroppings, gullies, scoops, trees, and saddles.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Temperatures dropped significantly overnight, and it should stay much cooler today, which will certainly help with the wet avalanche problem today. A few inches of fresh, lighter density snow from after frontal passage capped and will insulate very wet and even slushy snow from during the day yesterday at upper and mid elevations.

  • Periods of powerful March sun later today could quickly warm the new snow in sunny terrain, and the fresh snow could become prone to avalanching. Natural shallow soft slabs and loose wet avalanches are possible.
  • Wet slides gouging into older snow are also possible, mainly at mid elevations on steep slopes in shallow or rocky areas with very soft or weak wet snow.
Additional Information

High pressure will build over the region today, but the weather will remain active, and a couple weak systems will graze the zone in the next couple days. Snow showers are possible in the mountains this morning, but clearing and some sun is likely by afternoon. High temperatures at 8500' are expected to be just above freezing, and a moderate but sustained northwest wind will keep things cool and continue to drift yesterday's snow at upper elevations. It'll be partly cloudy tonight with a low around 23 degrees and lighter north wind. North, northeast winds are expected tomorrow morning, temperatures are expected to be a few degrees cooler, and there's a chance of snow showers in the afternoon.

General Announcements

Please submit snow and avalanche observations from your ventures in the backcountry HERE. You can call us at 801-524-5304 or email HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram or Tweet us @UAClogan. To report avalanche activity in the Logan Area or to contact the local avalanche forecaster call me, Toby, at 435-757-7578.

We'll update this advisory throughout the season on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by about 7:30

This advisory is produced by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.

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