UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist on drifted upper and mid-elevation slopes steeper than 30°. People are more likely to trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow on upper elevation slopes facing north through southeast, but avalanches are possible anywhere recent drifts formed in steep terrain.
*Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, especially in drifted upper and mid elevation terrain.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
Strong winds blowing generally from the west drifted a few inches of heavy fresh snow at mid and upper elevations, creating stiffer wind slabs in lee slope avalanche starting zones and in and around terrain features in exposed terrain. People could trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow at upper and mid elevations on drifted slopes steeper than 30°.

The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports around 5 inches of heavy new snow in the last 48 hours. It's 15°F this morning, and there is 58 inches of total snow at the site, containing 68% of normal SWE. Sustained and strong westerly winds drifted the new snow at upper and mid elevations. Northwest winds are currently blowing around 20 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station.
  • It will be sunny in the mountains today, with high temperatures at 8500' around 32°F and winds blowing from the west-northwest around 15 mph.
  • It will be mostly clear tonight with low temperatures around 17°F and 11 to 16 mph west northwest winds.
  • Tomorrow, we'll see sunny skies, a high temperature around 43°F, and continuing west-northwest winds, blowing around 13 mph. mph.
  • Expect fair weather and fairly significant daytime warming for the last half of the week, with high temperatures on Friday climbing well over 50°F. Expect unsettled seasonal weather and a few chances of snow later in the weekend.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone since the rapid warmup at the end of March, which caused many natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches in the Wellsville and Bear River mountain ranges.

Check out all the recent backcountry observations and many recent avalanche reports from across Utah HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
People could trigger wind slab avalanches on steep upper and mid-elevation slopes. Yesterday, strong westerly created areas of wind-drifted snow. The strong winds and snowfall increased the size and hardness of drifts and wind slabs.
  • Avoid stiffer drifts on the lee side of major ridges, on corniced slopes, and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, scoops, gully walls, and cliff bands.
Additional Information
General Spring Advice: Wet slushy snow is generally unstable on steep slopes.
  • Get an early start, so you can get off the snow early before it is softened by seasonal midday warmth.
  • Avoid and stay out from underneath overhanging cornices.
  • If you start sinking into soft saturated snow, it's time to change your route, get off and out from under slopes steeper than 30°, or head home.
  • Now is a great time to practice your avalanche rescue skills. Thanks to the generous support of Northstar, the Franklin Basin Beacon Training Park is up and running. The park is located directly west of the parking lot and is open for anyone to use. All you need is your beacon and probe. Please do not dig up the transmitters.
  • 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.