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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Thursday, January 24, 2013

Heightened avalanche conditions and a MODERATE (or level 2) danger exist on drifted slopes at upper and mid-elevations. You might trigger wind slab avalanches on steep slopes where stiff drifts formed on top of weak sugary faceted snow. Use normal caution, avoid wind drifts on steep slopes, and continue to use safe travel protocols.

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Weather and Snow

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports an inch of snow from overnight. It's 30 degrees this morning, there is 44 inches of total snow, and 61% of average water content for the date. The 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station reports 24 degrees and overnight southwest winds averaging around 30 mph, with a gust of 50 mph early this morning.. Snow conditions are quite varied these days, with nice fast re-crystallized snow in sheltered shady areas, best at mid-elevations, and sun-crusts, wind-jack, rime-crusts, and shallow structureless snow elsewhere. Even so, it's worth the effort to escape the foul and stale air that remains trapped in Cache Valley.

Recent Avalanches

Backcountry riders triggered a couple wind slab avalanches yesterday in the mountains to our south. A skier in the mountains above Salt Lake City unintentionally triggered a 50' wide wind slab when he fell on a steep northwest facing slope at around 10000' in elevation, and a snowboarder intentionally triggered a 100' wide by 1' deep wind slab avalanche on a northeast facing slope at around 7300' in the backcountry above Ogden Valley. No new avalanches were reported locally since the last storm almost two weeks ago (1-11)

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

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

Winds shifted around from the southwest Tuesday and increased yesterday and overnight, creating areas with heightened avalanche conditions at upper and mid elevations... Despite an obvious lack of transportable snow, we noticed evidence of drifting in exposed terrain yesterday, which likely continued with increased wind speeds overnight creating stiff fresh wind slabs.. Older wind slab avalanches around a foot deep are unlikely in most areas, but still possible at all elevations on drifted slopes. Watch for and avoid stiff wind slabs on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, gullies, and scoops. Potential wind slabs are drifts that often appear smooth or rounded and chalky looking, and they sometimes sound rather hollow. Hard wind slabs might allow you to get out on them before releasing. Cracking and audible collapsing are red flags.

Additional Information

We'll see some snow in the mountains today as a weak but moist storm brushes by northern Utah, with 3 to 7 inches of accumulation forecast at upper elevations in the Bear River Range. More light snow is expected on Saturday as another weak and moist storm dives to our south. A more significant storm will impact the region on Sunday, with several inches of accumulation possible. A stormy pattern in a northwest flow should keep the inversions at bay through most of next week.

Check out the new Logan Mountain Weather page...

General Announcements

Remember your information from the backcountry can save lives. If you see or trigger an avalanche, 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.

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