While it rained at low elevations, snow fell in the mountains above about 7000 feet in elevation. It rained in both Cache and Bear Lake valleys, but heavy snow was reported on Hwy 36 over Emigration Summit. It rained in Beaver Canyon, but a few inches of very heavy snow fell at UDOT Logan Summit. It appears that the Northern and Central Bear River Range received significantly more snow than Logan Peak and the Wellsville Range. Heavy snow was drifted by strong winds yesterday, forming thick wind slabs, in some cases, well below the ridgelines. The new snow accumulated on last week's widespread thick and hard rain crust. It's all overlaying layers of weak, sugary, faceted snow near the ground.
Temperatures have dropped to 18°F at the Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet, reporting 5 inches of heavy new snow and 28 inches of total snow. Only 2 inches of new snow accumulated at the Card Canyon site at 8700 feet, and it's 12°F. On Logan Peak at 9700 feet, it's 9°F, and winds are currently blowing from the west at 30 mph. Yesterday, we noted gusts at the station above 90 mph. At 9500 feet on Paris Peak, it's a cool 10°F with 25 to 40 mph winds blowing from the west-southwest.
The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Northern Bear River Range through Saturday morning. Snow is likely at upper elevations in the Logan Zone today, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible and temperatures around 31° F. It will be windy again in the mountains with winds blowing from the west-southwest. A warm storm system will bring valley rain and high elevation mountain snow from Friday through Saturday, as well as another round of strong winds.
No new avalanches have been reported locally since early December. For all observations and avalanche activity in the Logan Zone, go HERE
