Donate to the 2024 Spring Campaign to help rebuild the UAC website.

Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Friday, April 5, 2019
MODERATE: Overnight temperatures stayed well above freezing at most stations, and a superficially refrozen snow surface will soften quickly with today's warm temperatures. Periods of sun and potential greenhousing will soften the saturated snow and create heightened wet avalanche conditions, especially in sheltered sunny terrain. Avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer of surface hoar remain possible on isolated northerly facing slopes at upper elevation.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
When the forecasting ends, the UAC’s work keeps going strong. Summer is a busy time for the UAC. During the summer we are working hard on our fall and winter planning; putting together the Fall Fundraiser and USAW; updating our awareness and education programs; this summer we will be finishing up the website redesign project. Your donation shows you’re invested in this community all year round! You can still be part of the UAC’s success in 2019. Consider making a donation by April 8.
Weather and Snow
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports a toasty 37 ºF this morning and there is 84"of total snow. Temperatures are hovering right around freezing, currently 31 ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and south winds are averaging around 26 mph, with gusts in the mid 50s. If you're up early you might find some supportable, "corn snow", but the surface refreeze is superficial since mountain temperatures did not drop below freezing overnight. The saturated snow in many areas will soften earlier today than it did yesterday, and you should leave steep terrain if you start sinking into wet snow.

A weak disturbance will produce isolated to widely scattered showers today. A moist cold front will cross the area late tonight into Saturday morning, bringing low elevation rain and accumulating mountain snow. High pressure returns to start the week before a stronger and colder storm system arrives mid-week with snow possible to the northern Utah valley floors.
We could see some snow showers in the mountains this afternoon, but it will be partly sunny today. High temperatures at 8500' are expected to be around 43 ºF, with 15 mph southwest wind. Snow showers are likely late tonight, with 1 to 3 inches possible. Low temperatures around 27 ºF are expected, with 8 to 14 mph southwest winds, veering from the northwest after midnight. Snow showers are expected tomorrow morning, with 1 to 3 inches possible. High temperatures are expected to be near 38ºF, and 9 to 16 mph west wind.
Recent Avalanches
Numerous fairly large natural wet avalanches are apparent on the big, east facing avalanche paths on the west side of Cache Valley in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness. Wet loose avalanches, entraining recent storm snow occurred with solar warming, mostly on Wednesday, although a few may have also run during the heat of the day yesterday.
On Saturday, 3/30/19, two riders were caught, carried, and partially buried in the Whites Canyon Area just north of the Idaho State Line in the Franklin Basin Area. Luckily, there were no injuries. See report HERE
Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Periods of strong sun and possible greenhousing today will cause the snow to become soft and saturated and prone to avalanching in many areas. Avoid being on or under steep slopes with warmth-softened, saturated surface 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.
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
1' to 2' deep avalanches avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer of surface hoar or near surface facets will be possible for people to trigger on isolated upper elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass.
  • Use caution in upper elevation areas where drifts form, like on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, tree stringers, and cliff bands.
Additional Information
I will update this forecast tomorrow morning.
General Announcements
The new weather station at the WSU Bloomington Canyon Yurt is up and running. Data available HERE
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.
The Beaver Mountain Backside is the backcountry, and it is avalanche terrain. Same goes for the steep rocky terrain adjacent to Cherry Peak Resort. If you leave a ski area boundary, you and your partners should carry and practice with avalanche rescue equipment and follow safe backcountry travel protocols.
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
If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you subscribe HERE.
Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at REI, Backcountry.com, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay by clicking on these links, they donate a portion of your purchase to the UAC. If you sell on eBay, you can have your See our Affiliate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop
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.