Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Tuesday, January 8, 2013

The snow is mostly stable and the danger is LOW ( level 1) on most slopes in the backcountry today. Heightened avalanche conditions exist in places, and there are areas with a MODERATE (or level 2) danger, mainly at upper elevations. You could trigger wind slab avalanches in drifted terrain or loose sluffs on very steep slopes. Use normal caution and continue to practice safe travel protocols.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements

The friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan is presenting a snowmobile avalanche safety clinic in Logan, with a classroom session on Thursday.January 17 and a field session up at Tony Grove on Saturday January 19. Save the date, call 435-757-2794 for more information, and visit our website to register..... HERE

Weather and Snow

You'll still be able to find good, fast, re-crystallized powder conditions if you can get away from the more popular tracked up areas. Unfortunately, sun and wind crusted the snow surface on exposed slopes, and you'll find the best "loud powder" conditions in sheltered terrain facing the northern half of the compass... The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 25 degrees this morning, 45 inches of total snow, and 76% of average water content for the date. The CSI Logan Peak weather station reports west winds, with wind speeds averaging in the upper teens, and I'm reading 21degrees at the 9700' station.

Recent Avalanches

Other than a few long-running loose sluffs and small manageable shallow wind slabs, no avalanches have been reported locally in 2013....

Here's a link to our avalanche list...

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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Shallow wind slabs exist on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, gullies, and scoops. Some drifts are building on weak sugary faceted surface snow. Avoid stiff wind drifts on steep slopes. These often appear smooth or rounded and chalky looking, and they sometimes sound rather hollow. Cracking in drifted snow is a red flag requiring reevaluation of your route. West winds will increase tonight and tomorrow, and wind slabs will probably become a bit more widespread, thicker, and less manageable in exposed terrain....

Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Triggered loose dry sluffs are likely on very steep slopes with loose re-crystallized snow, and some of these could pick up energy and more snow in descent on longer sustained slopes.. Some recent sluffs piled up fairly deeply in gullies below steep slopes.. Moist sluffs are possible on sun-warmed slopes. Although loose sluffs are a generally manageable threat, they could be a problem if you're caught looking up at them from below or are swept off a cliff or into trees, or caught in a gully.

Sluff management: Keep an eye out above and behind you as you descend, so you can move out of the way of any moving snow. Be sure to only expose one person at a time in steep terrain, and move well out of the way and out of terrain traps below your partners before you give the all clear signal....

Avalanche Problem #3
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Remember that LOW danger doesn't mean NO danger. Even though we can venture into steeper terrain with generally stable snow conditions, we still need to follow safe travel protocols, asses the snow and terrain before committing, and make our decisions based on observed facts and not feelings or our forecast....

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Additional Information

Expect mild temperatures and increasing clouds in the mountains today. Light west winds this morning will gradually increase this afternoon and tonight. Snow is likely overnight, with 1 to 3 inches possible at upper elevations, especially in the northern part of the zone and near the Idaho State Line. It will be breezy tomorrow, with west-northwest winds, clearing skies, mild temperatures, and partly sunny conditions developing. Expect breezy conditions in the mountains again on Wednesday, with southwest wind becoming stronger Wednesday night ahead of a strong cold front that is expected to arrive on Thursday. This storm is expected to bring a good shot of much needed snow to our mountains and should scour the smoggy air out of Cache Valley...

Check out the Logan Mountain Weather page...

General Announcements

Remember your information from the backcountry can save lives. If you see or trigger an avalanche in the backcountry or see anything else we should know about, please send us your snow and avalanche observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or email by clicking HERE. In the Logan Area you can contact Toby Weed directly at 435-757-7578.

I will update this advisory on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by around 7:30...

This advisory is produced by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.