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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Monday morning, April 6, 2020
Heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist today on steep slopes at all elevations in the Logan Zone. People could trigger 1 to 2 foot deep slab avalanches of wind drifted snow on steep upper elevation slopes. Warm daytime temperatures and rain on already saturated snow will cause elevated danger of wet avalanches in very steep mid and lower elevation terrain.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Weather and Snow
It's 34°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel and there is 98 inches of total snow with 113% of normal Snow Water Equivalent. It's raining in Logan and rain is likely again at mid elevations in the mountains as well this morning, with temperatures hovering above freezing in most areas. It's 27°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and south winds are cranking along the ridges with hourly average wind speeds pushing 40 mph and gusting to 61 mph earlier this morning.
Heightened avalanche conditions exist at upper elevations, and people could trigger slab avalanches of wind drifted snow. Warming daytime temperatures, a rising rain/snow line, and rain on snow will cause increasing probability of both wet loose and wet slab avalanches at lower and mid elevations during the day in steep terrain.
Evaluate terrain carefully and continue to practice safe travel protocols to minimize your risk. Staying off and out from under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees is the best way to avoid problems.
The low pressure system moving south along the California coast will bring windy and mild conditions to much of the area today. Somewhat cooler and wet conditions will develop across southern Utah as the low pressure system moves east across the desert southwest midweek.
Expect snow and rain showers, becoming all rain even at upper elevations in the mountains today, with 8500' high temperatures around 45°F, and south-southwest wind blowing 17 to 24 mph. Temperatures at lower elevations will climb into the mid 50s again, and the rain-snow line will rise in elevation during the day. Snow showers are likely tonight at upper elevations, with little accumulation likely. It will be cloudy and low temperatures are expected to drop to around 30°F, with 14 to 26 mph southwest winds. Snow showers are possible again tomorrow, it will be partly sunny though, with high temperatures around 44°F, with 11 mph southwest winds.
Recent Avalanches
Yesterday, a solo skier triggered a dangerous wet slab avalanche on a southeast facing slope at around 7600' in central Wood Camp. Report is HERE
Friday afternoon on Cornice Ridge above Tony Grove Lake, a snowmobiler triggered an avalanche of wind drifted snow above a group of skiers building a jump. The 14" deep and a few hundred feet wide avalanche on a northeast facing slope at around 9200' in elevation overran the area, and the skiers narrowly escaped as a large pile of debris stacked up on their not yet completed jump. Shortly afterward, a rider from another group triggered another slab avalanche, just north and adjacent to the first.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
South winds are cranking along the ridges today, and heightened avalanche conditions exist in drifted upper elevation terrain. People could trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow, with slabs ranging from 1 to 2 feet deep, on steep upper elevation slopes.
  • Watch for cracking as a sign of instability.
  • Avoid stiffer, recently drifted snow near the ridge tops, on corniced slopes, and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and cliff bands.
  • Stay off and out from under large ridge top cornices, which could break much further back than expected and might trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Clouds trapped yesterday's heat and temperatures stayed above freezing at most stations overnight. The saturated snow did not refreeze well and temperatures will warm throughout the day, rain will fall on the snow at mid and lower elevations, and elevated conditions for wet loose and wet slab avalanches will once again develop on very steep slopes. Yesterday's skier triggered wet slab avalanche in Wood Camp indicates potential for similar dangerous wet avalanche activity on very steep slopes across the zone.
  • Watch for loose, unconsolidated snow, roller balls, pin-wheels, and natural sluffs as telltale signs of instability.
  • If you or your machine starts sinking into saturated snow or if the snow where you are gets warm and slushy, you should move off of and out from under steep slopes.
Additional Information
Information on outdoor recreation - The State of Utah created this webpage with information about recreating on both state and federal public lands during the current health crisis.
Skiing and riding at closed ski resorts - Some resorts allow access now, and some do not. Please check HERE for the latest info on ski area access.
New to the backcountry (including riding at closed resorts) - Watch the award-winning, 15 minute Know Before You Go video, or take the 5-part, free online-learning series.
We found the new snow not sticking very well the the wet old snow at lower elevations on Wednesday.
General Announcements
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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 also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.
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.
We will update this forecast before about 7:30 tomorrow morning.
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