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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Thursday morning, April 9, 2020
Heightened wet avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger will develop again today on steep slopes at all elevations in the Logan Zone. Very warm daytime temperatures, a poor overnight refreeze, and high angle April sun will cause increasing danger of wet avalanches. People could trigger wet loose and perhaps dangerous wet slab avalanches in very steep terrain, and some natural activity is possible.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Weather and Snow
It's a warm 40°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel and there is 92 inches of total snow with 113% of normal Snow Water Equivalent. It's 35°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station this morning, and increasing easterly winds are currently blowing about 24 mph.
Warming daytime temperatures and intense high angle sun will cause increasing probability of wet loose avalanches during the day at all elevations. 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.
The low pressure system over the southern California coast will advance into extreme southern Nevada today, before looping backward through California on Friday. A northern jet stream wave will push a cold front through the area Saturday night. Cool northwesterly flow will then prevail through much of next week.
Expect sunny and warm conditions in the mountains today again, with 8500' high temperatures climbing to around 54°F, and 8 to 11 mph east wind. Temperatures at lower elevations will be as high as 66°F. Scattered snow and rain showers are possible in the mountains tonight, with little accumulation expected. It will be mostly cloudy, and low temperatures are expected to drop to around 28°F, with 8 to 11 mph west winds. Tomorrow will be sunny with high temperatures around 49°F and 9 to 11 mph west 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
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Overnight temperatures stayed above 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 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.
  • 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 large chunks.
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
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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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