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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Saturday, April 13, 2019
MODERATE: The danger is LOW on most slopes this morning, except at lower elevations where overnight temperatures stayed above freezing and wet avalanches are possible. Heightened avalanche conditions will rapidly develop during the day at all elevations due to seasonal daytime warming and strong April sun. Natural and human triggered wet loose avalanches entraining this week's fresh snow will become likely on steep slopes with saturated new snow.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Thank you to everyone who supported our spring fundraiser. We reached and even exceeded our goals. The Utah Avalanche Center could not exist without your support.
Spring is here and it is time to adjust our travel. Learn what to watch for during spring avalanche conditions when the snow becomes wet. Watch our Spring video HERE
Weather and Snow
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 84 inches of total snow, with 3 inches of new snow overnight, and 14 inches with 1.4" SWE from this week's stormy weather, and it's 25ºF this morning. I'm reading 19ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and northwest winds are averaging around 14 mph. It stayed above freezing and rained a bit last night in Cache Valley, so avalanches of wet snow are possible today in areas where snow remains at lower elevations. The danger of wet loose avalanches will increase rapidly today in sunny terrain when the strong April sun peeks out from under the clouds.

High pressure will bring tranquil weather Saturday. Mountain snow and valley rain chances return early next week as a cold front moves across the state.
There is a 40% chance of continuing snow showers this morning, with little in the way of accumulation. It will be partly sunny today, with high temperatures at 8500' expected to be around 36ºF, with 14 to 17 mph west winds. It will be mostly cloudy tonight, with low temperatures around 27ºF, and 16 to 22 mph west-southwest winds. Snow showers are likely tomorrow, with 2 to 4 inches possible. High temperatures of around 36ºF are expected, with southwest wind 22 to 25 mph, gusting into the 40s.
Recent Avalanches
The sun popped out for a few short periods yesterday morning and we noticed a few natural wet loose avalanches at upper elevations on east and southeast facing slopes in the Tony Grove Area in the afternoon.
3 new wet loose avalanches entraining a few inches of saturated fresh snow were apparent on the east side of Mt. Magog in the afternoon, 4/12/19.

Despite poor visibility, we could see some minor natural activity in the Wellsville Range this week, with one fairly sizable new avalanche noted in North Shumway Canyon.
4/10/19 natural avalanche in North Shumway Canyon in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.
Numerous fairly large natural wet loose and a few wet slab avalanches occurred late last week across the Logan Zone. Wet loose and wet slab avalanches occurred with daytime solar warming.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
It stayed above freezing and rained a bit in Cache Valley overnight, and avalanches of wet snow are possible on lower elevation slopes with remaining snow. Rapid daytime warming and strong April sun will cause an increasing danger of wet loose avalanches. Wet avalanches entraining a few inches of saturated fresh surface snow will rapidly become possible for people to trigger, and natural activity is likely in steep sunny terrain at all elevations.
  • Continue to avoid being on or under steep slopes with melt-softened saturated snow, and stay out of runout gullies.
  • Stay off and out from under large ridge top cornices, which are likely to break further back than expected, and could trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
Additional Information
Our last regular forecast will be on Monday, 4/15/19, with intermittent and weekend updates continuing through April.
Here is a short video about Spring snow.
General Announcements
Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. You should check out and use the new Avalanche Beacon Training Park we set up at the Franklin Basin trailhead. Special thanks to Northstars Ultimate Outdoors, USU Outdoor Program, and Beaver Mountain Ski Patrol for helping us to make this possible.
Check out the improved weather links, road conditions, and weather links for each forecast region on the new UAC IOS App. Do you use the NOAA point forecast? If so, now you can bookmark your favorite weather locations in "My Weather" in the App. HERE
Are you new to the backcountry or looking to refresh your skills? The UAC has released a free 5-part avalanche skills eLearning series. HERE
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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. HERE You can call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram.
This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.