Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains
Issued by Toby Weed on
Sunday morning, March 8, 2020
Sunday morning, March 8, 2020
Rain on already saturated snow on lower elevation slopes and several inches of new snow and drifting up higher have created heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger at all elevations in the Logan Zone. People could trigger wet avalanches on steep lower and mid elevation slopes with saturated snow, and some natural wet loose avalanches are possible. Up higher, human triggered loose sluffs and soft slab avalanches of storm snow, as well as stiffer avalanches of recently wind drifted snow and cornice falls are possible in steep terrain.
- Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements
The Utah Avalanche Center's Avy Awareness Auction is currently underway with tons of great gear, jewelry, artwork and experiences available. Visit the auction page HERE to help support the UAC's spring avalanche awareness and outreach efforts.
Weather and Snow
It's a cool 29°F and there is about 7 inches of new snow from early this morning at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel. There is 86 inches of total snow containing around 119% of normal Snow Water Equivalent. It's 23°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and west-southwest winds are diminishing a bit this morning after cranking along the ridges overnight, currently blowing about 22 mph, with gusts in the 40s.
It rained overnight on already soft and saturated snow on lower elevation slopes. Looks like about 7 inches of new snow fell at upper elevations, drifted by southwest winds in exposed terrain. Heightened avalanche conditions exist at all elevations, and people could trigger wet avalanches down low, and loose and soft slab avalanches of storm snow, and/or avalanches of wind drifted snow up higher.
It rained overnight on already soft and saturated snow on lower elevation slopes. Looks like about 7 inches of new snow fell at upper elevations, drifted by southwest winds in exposed terrain. Heightened avalanche conditions exist at all elevations, and people could trigger wet avalanches down low, and loose and soft slab avalanches of storm snow, and/or avalanches of wind drifted snow up higher.
A weak weather system will cross the area today. High pressure will bring a drying trend to much of the area early in the upcoming week, before a stronger system impacts mainly southern and central Utah during the middle and latter portions of the upcoming week. Snow showers will continue this morning, but not much more accumulation is expected. It will be mostly cloudy with 8500' high temperatures around 34°F, and westerly winds will blow 5 to 10 mph along the ridges. It'll be partly cloudy with some snow showers possible tonight, with low temperatures around 23°F, and 5 to 10 mph west winds becoming light and variable. Snow showers are likely tomorrow, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. High temperatures will be around 34°F, and south-southwest winds will blow around 13 mph.
Recent Avalanches
Friday, we observed recent natural wet loose avalanche activity in Logan Canyon. We could see evidence of small surface sluffs sliding on the February dusty-crust into the Logan River in the River Chutes just below Temple Fork and downstream in the Dugway Cirque.
Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Overnight temperatures stayed above freezing at lower elevations and rain fell on already melt-softened saturated snow. Several inches of heavy snow accumulated on mid elevation slopes, insulating the warm, and saturated snow that was on the surface yesterday. People could trigger wet avalanches on steep slopes with saturated snow today, and natural wet avalanches are also still possible.
- Roller balls, pinwheels, and naturally occurring sluffs or other avalanches indicate potential for wet avalanche activity.
- Avoid being on or under steep slopes with saturated snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
About 7 inches of new snow fell on upper elevation slopes last night, drifted by westerly winds. People could trigger loose sluffs and soft slab avalanches of storm snow on steep slopes at upper and mid elevations. Stiffer and larger avalanches of wind drifted new snow and cornice falls are possible in drifted terrain at upper elevations, most likely on slopes facing the eastern half of the compass.
- Cracking is a red flag, indicating unstable snow.
- Watch for and avoid drifts near ridge lines and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, scoops, gully walls, and sub-ridges.
- Avoid ridge top cornices, which can break much further back than expected and could start avalanches on slopes below.
Additional Information
A cross country skier was charged and trampled by a moose in upper Green Canyon last week, resulting in a very shaken skier and a broken ski pole. The big beasts are out and about, and they can be pretty grumpy this time of year. People and dogs need to yield the packed trail to the moose and give them lots of room.
General Announcements
Thanks to the generous support of our Utah ski resorts and Ski Utah, we have discount lift tickets available. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education! Get your tickets HERE.
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This forecast is from the USDA Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
I will update this forecast before about 7:30 Monday morning.