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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Friday morning, April 12, 2024
Overnight temperatures stayed well above freezing, and very warm temperatures, intense sun, and potential greenhousing will elevate the avalanche danger to MODERATE at all elevations today. Heightened conditions will develop on many slopes steeper than 30°, with wet avalanches and large natural cornice falls possible.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
  • Avoid terrain threatened by large overhanging cornices.
  • Move off and out from under slopes with melt-softened saturated snow in the day's heat.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
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Weather and Snow
Wednesday, we went into the Wellsvilles and enjoyed great weather and fantastic views, but the snow became too soft and sticky by noon. (here is our report). Yesterday, riders and pow-surfers found scraps of powder lingering on very steep north-facing slopes at the highest elevations in the Central Bear River Range. The snow was moist and variable in most terrain, and they observed evidence of expected natural cornice fall activity.
Temperatures stayed well above freezing overnight at all stations, and at upper elevations, it's more than 10°F warmer early this morning than it was yesterday morning, with 5:00 readings of 40°F on the summits of Paris Peak and Logan Peak. Today, the saturated snow in sunny terrain will be softened by the heat even earlier in the day, and wet avalanches and natural cornice falls are possible.
The snow at lower elevations is melting pretty fast, with none or very little remaining on slopes facing southeast, south, southwest, and west. Despite this, access from the Logan Canyon Trailheads is still good (you ride on snow once you leave the parking areas), and snow coverage is excellent in upper and mid-elevation terrain.
The Tony Grove Lake Snotel at 8400' reports 43°F this morning. There is 94 inches of total snow at the site, which contains 126% of the normal snow water equivalent.
At the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, increasing winds are blowing from the south at 26 mph with gusts in the mid 30s, and it is 40°F.
At UAC's new Paris Peak weather station at 9500', it's 40°F, and at 5:00, the wind is blowing from the south-southwest, reading 9 mph.
It's 44°F at UAC's new Card Canyon weather station at 8800', and there is 81 inches of total snow.
Expect mostly sunny skies in the mountains today. High temperatures should reach around 53°F at 9500' (and at the tops of the highest peaks in the Bear River Range), and the wind will blow from the south 11 to 17 mph.
Expect fair weather conditions in the mountains again tomorrow, with hot sun and warm daytime temperatures similar to today's. The wind will blow from the west-southwest at around 15 mph.
Sunday will also be mostly sunny, but it'll be a little cooler with breezy conditions and even a chance for some snow showers up high.
Snow showers are possible early next week, but little in the way of accumulation is expected.
If you would like more detailed information, you can visit our mountain weather page HERE.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches were reported yesterday, but riders observed evidence of expected fresh cornice falls off high ridges in generally east facing terrain.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Cornice
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Increasing daytime heat in the next few days will cause overhanging cornices to buckle and sag, and some may naturally calve off large pieces, threatening people who may be on slopes below.
  • Large and overhanging cornices may break further back than expected. Natural cornice falls could trigger wet avalanches on slopes below.
  • As always, practice safe travel protocols to avoid exposing more than one person to avalanche danger.
A very large cornice is overhanging the main face and threatens the climb up Rattlesnake Canyon in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Solar warmth will cause the snow to become soft, prone to producing loose wet avalanches that entrain the saturated snow. On sustained slopes, these could produce good-sized piles of heavy cement-like debris.
  • Rapid warming, roller balls, pinwheels, and wet sluffs or small point-release avalanches are red flags indicating unstable wet snow.
  • Watch for signs of instability, like cracking, recent avalanches, or cornice falls on similar slopes.
  • Avoid travel on or under steep slopes with saturated surface snow. Stay off steep slopes above terrain traps like trees, sinks, gullies, or rock bands that small wet avalanches could sweep you into.
Roller balls and pinwheels indicate wet snow instability and are often precursors of larger wet avalanches.
Additional Information
Check out McKinley Talty's recent blog post, "Do We Let Our Guard Down in the Spring?" about springtime mindsets and avalanche incidents... HERE.
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
-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 forecasts through Sunday, 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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