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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Wednesday morning, April 8, 2020
Heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist today on steep slopes at all elevations in the Logan Zone. People could trigger slab avalanches of previously wind drifted snow on some steep upper elevation slopes. Warm daytime temperatures and high angle April sun will cause increasing and elevated danger of wet loose and slab avalanches in steep terrain.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Uncertainty, Risk, & Decision Making: before, during, and after COVID-19 - Read this thought-provoking blog post about how we take risks by guest author Tom Diegel.
Weather and Snow
It's 33°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel and there is 96 inches of total snow with 114% of normal Snow Water Equivalent. It's 29°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station this morning, and northwest winds are blowing about 16 mph.
Heightened avalanche conditions exist at upper elevations, and people could trigger slab avalanches of wind drifted snow. Warming daytime temperatures and intense high angle sun will cause increasing probability wet loose avalanches during the day. People could trigger dangerous wet slab avalanches on very steep sunny slopes and under rock outcroppings or cliff bands.
Evaluate terrain carefully and continue to practice safe travel protocols to minimize your risk during the current health crisis. Staying off and out from under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees is the best way to avoid problems.
Very warm daytime temperatures and powerful April sun are creating increasing and elevated wet avalanche conditions on steep slopes at all elevations in the Wellsville Range above Mendon.
The low pressure system off the southern California coast will turn east and advance into extreme southern Nevada by late Thursday. Somewhat cooler and wet conditions will impact much of Utah through midweek, with drier conditions returning late in the week.
Expect sunny and warm conditions in the mountains today, with 8500' high temperatures climbing to around 51°F, and 6 to 6 mph north-northeast wind. Temperatures at lower elevations will be as high as 65°F. It will be clear and low temperatures are expected to drop to around 29°F, with 10 to 14 mph northeast winds. Tomorrow's weather looks very similar to today's, with high temperatures around 51°F and 9 to 14 mph north wind.
Recent Avalanches
At least a dozen human triggered avalanches have occurred in the Logan Zone in the past couple weeks. See the reports HERE.
Sunday, a solo skier triggered a dangerous wet slab avalanche on a southeast facing slope at around 7600' in central Wood Camp. Report is HERE
Riders came across a fresh human triggered avalanche Saturday near the Franklin County high point in St. Charles Canyon. There were fresh sled tracks at the top of the slope and under the fresh debris down in the bowl. The 18" deep and 200' wide avalanche occurred on a ENE facing slope at around 9000' in elevation.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Areas of heightened avalanche conditions still exist today in drifted upper elevation terrain. People could trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow, with slabs ranging from 1 to 2 feet deep, on very steep upper elevation slopes facing the northern half of the compass.
  • 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. Cornices will sag and buckle in the daytime warmth, and some may calve off large chunks.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Overnight temperatures stayed above or close to freezing at most stations in the Logan Zone again overnight. The saturated snow did not refreeze well and temperatures will warm throughout the day, the intense, high angled April sun will be out in force, and elevated conditions for wet loose and wet slab avalanches will once again develop on steep slopes. Sunday's skier triggered wet slab avalanche in Wood Camp indicates potential for similar dangerous wet avalanche activity on very steep slopes across the zone. Very steep sunny slopes beneath rock outcroppings or cliff bands are particularly suspect.
  • 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.
Our snowpit tests last week showed propagation of the new snow, failing on loose wet grains..... Watch the video HERE
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.
General Announcements
EMAIL ADVISORY. If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you subscribe HERE.
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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