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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Thursday morning, March 13, 2025
Heightened avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry this morning; people could trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Heavy snowfall and drifting by strong winds from the south-southwest will elevate the avalanche danger to CONSIDERABLE in upper elevation terrain. Natural avalanches and cornice falls will become possible tonight, and human-triggered wind slab avalanches are likely.
Make conservative choices, and evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Avoid steep drifted slopes and stay well away from and out from under overhanging cornices.
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Weather and Snow
Despite a lack of transportable snow, drifting by strong winds from the south-southwest created hard wind slabs on the lee sides of major ridges and in and around upper elevation terrain features. Yesterday, I found mostly wet, sloppy, and slushy surface snow on all but due north facing slopes in Hodge's Canyon above Bear Lake. The snow was too wet and heavy for drifting at mid elevations, even by strong winds. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Logan Zone beginning this morning and extending through tomorrow evening. Heavy snowfall and strong winds will deposit fresh wind slabs in avalanche starting zones and elevate the hazard in upper elevation terrain. Low elevation terrain facing the south half of the compass melted off and is bare of snow or has only very shallow snow cover, but warm temperatures and rain-on-snow will elevate the danger of wet avalanches on steep low and mid-elevation slopes with saturated snow.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet reports 34° F, with 88 inches of total snow. It's 30° F at the Card Canyon weather station with 66 inches of total snow. At 9700 feet at CSI's Logan Peak Wx station, increasing winds are blowing around 40 mph from the south with gusts in the 60+ mph range, and it's 26° F. On Paris Peak at 9500 feet, it's 25° F, with winds blowing 10 to 25 mph from the south-southwest.
Expect snow in the mountains today, mainly after 9 am. The snow could be heavy at times. The temperature at 8500 feet will remain steady around 32° F. It will be windy, with a south-southwest wind 20 to 25 mph and gusts as high as 50 mph. Snow will continue into tonight, with total accumulations of 7 to 13 inches possible. Winds will veer from the west-northwest, and temperatures will drop to around 17° F. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a chance of snow, but less than an inch of accumulation is expected. High temperatures will be around 25° F and elevated winds from the west will continue to blow.
A few more inches of snow is expected to fall this weekend, and snowy weather will continue through the first half of next week with another cold front impacting the zone Monday night and Tuesday. The weather pattern is likely to remain active, with the potential for a couple (or a few) shortwave troughs after a brief ridge mid week.
For more information, visit the UAC weather page here: Weather - Utah Avalanche Center
For Logan-specific weather, go here: Logan Mountain Weather - Utah Avalanche Center
Recent Avalanches
We are very sad to report a fatal avalanche accident occurred on Friday, March 7 in the Western Uinta Mountains near Kamas. Preliminary accident report is HERE
-Large and small natural wet avalanches were reported and observed in sunny terrain at all elevations across the Logan Zone over the weekend. Wet activity tapered off a bit early this week as the snow adjusted to the heat.
Read about all avalanches and observations HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Drifting by increasing winds blowing from the south-southwest deposited stiff wind slabs in upper elevation terrain, and people could trigger small but hard wind slabs. With heavy snowfall and increasing winds from the south-southwest expected today, new wind slabs and cornices will build rapidly, elevating the avalanche hazard significantly.
  • Watch for and avoid pockets of stiff wind drifted snow on the lee side of major ridges, below cornices, and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, and gully walls.
  • Wind slabs appear smooth, chalky, and rounded, and they can sound hollow, like a drum, when you move around on them.
  • Cracking is a red flag indicating unstable snow.
  • Hard wind slabs sometimes let you get out on them before releasing suddenly. Freshly formed, softer wind slabs are often very easily triggered, sometimes remotely (or from a distance).
  • People should stay off of, out from under, and well away from large overhanging cornices, which are deceptive and often break much further back than expected. Natural cornice falls are possible, and these could trigger avalanches on slopes beneath.
Current winds on Logan Peak from the CSI weather station at 9700 feet.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Despite possible snowfall and a cooling breeze today, warm mountain temperatures (approaching 45° F in Logan Canyon) and rain on the snow will again elevate the danger of wet avalanches in low and mid elevation terrain.
  • If the snow you are in starts to feel soft and saturated, move to cooler aspects or higher elevations, or avoid travel in steep terrain altogether.
  • Natural wet avalanches could threaten parts of the Logan River. People should avoid fishing under steep slopes and river banks with loose saturated snow.
Additional Information
General Announcements
-National Forest Winter Recreation Travel Maps show where it's open to ride: UWCNF Logan, Ogden LRD Tony Grove, Franklin Basin CTNF Montpelier
-For all questions on forecasts, education, Know Before You Go, events, online purchases, or fundraising, call 801-365-5522.
-Remember the information you provide could save lives, especially if you see or trigger an avalanche. To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry, go HERE.
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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.
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