Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation NEW - Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Paige Pagnucco
Issued by Paige Pagnucco for
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
The avalanche danger is MODERATE this morning but could rise to CONSIDERABLE with today's continuing snow and strong winds.
The new snow may produce soft slab avalanches and long-running sluffs and strong winds have created areas of unstable, wind-drifted snow.
Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making are essential today.
Your best bet for safe travel and good riding conditions will be on sheltered slopes less than 30 degrees.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 11°F this morning, and there is 62 inches of total snow at the site, containing 66% of normal SWE. Westerly winds are currently blowing around 21 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station with gusts in the 30's.
Winter has returned! The Logan area mountains picked up about a foot of new snow since yesterday afternoon. Continued heavy snowfall and strong winds today will create dangerous avalanche conditions in the backcountry.
We'll see snow showers and westerly winds blowing 24 to 29 mph with gusts into the 40's. Temperatures will be quite cold with highs barely reaching 20 F and wind chills near zero. Some thunder is also possible.
By this evening the mountains could pick up another 6-10".
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Logan area mountains through early Wednesday morning.
Recent Avalanches
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Check out all the recent backcountry observations and avalanche reports from across Utah HERE.
Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Strong winds combined with heavy snowfall (both red flags for avalanche danger) have created sensitive areas of wind drifted snow. These drifts mainly exist on the eastern half of the compass but can develop on all aspects with erratic mountain winds.
As the storm continues today, you'll want to avoid steep slopes with freshly wind-drifted snow as well as areas like sub-ridges, scoops, and other terrain features where sensitive drifts of snow can form. Much firmer snow underfoot is a good clue you're on a wind slab as well as a hollow, drum-like feel. Watch for shooting cracks - a sure sign of instability.
Sheltered slopes less than 30 degrees will be your best bet for safe travel and good riding conditions.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The new snow is falling onto a variety of firm, frozen surfaces. With more snow on the way today, the potential will increase for both triggered and natural soft slab avalanches and long-running loose sluffs in steep upper and mid-elevation terrain. During today's periods of higher snowfall intensity, new snow avalanches will be easier to trigger. Pay attention to the weather and watch for signs of instability like recent avalanches and cracking in the new snow.
Avoid being on or under slopes steeper than 30 degrees to avoid this problem. You'll find good riding condtions on slopes less than 30 degrees.
Additional Information
  • Always follow safe backcountry travel protocols. Go one person at a time in avalanche terrain, while the rest of your party watches from a safe area. (practice anytime while traveling on or under backcountry slopes steeper than 30°)
  • Check your avalanche rescue equipment, change your batteries, and practice often with your backcountry partners.
    Check slope angles, and to avoid avalanche terrain stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30° and adjacent slopes. Video Here
General Announcements
Special thank you to Polaris and Northstar...Video Here
Who's up for some free avalanche training? Get a refresher, become better prepared for an upcoming avalanche class, or just boost your skills. Go to https://learn.kbyg.org/ and scroll down to Step 2 for a series of interactive online avalanche courses produced by the UAC.
  • Please submit your observations from the backcountry HERE.
This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. 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.
< Previous forecast
Next forecast >