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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Thursday, March 21, 2013

The snow in most areas is stable, avalanches are unlikely, and the danger is mostly LOW (level 1) in the backcountry. However, heightened avalanche conditions exist and there's a MODERATE (level 2) danger on drifted slopes at upper elevations. You might trigger shallow, generally manageable, wind slab avalanches on steep slopes with recent deposits of drifted snow. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially in drifted upper elevation terrain.

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Weather and Snow

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 4 more inches of new snow in the last 24 hours, with 7/10ths of an inch of water equivalent. It's 23 degrees, and with 61"of total snow, the station sits at 67% of average water for the date. The CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700' reports 13 degrees and overnight hourly average wind speeds in the upper 20s and a 46 mph gust from the west-southwest before switching around from the northwest ans diminishing into the teens this morning. We found nice smooth and creamy "ride anywhere" and very nice shallow and fast powder conditions yesterday... Conditions are fairly good at all elevations, but best in lower angled terrain.

Recent Avalanches

Last week's unseasonably warm weather spawned numerous natural wet avalanches in the Logan Area, but cold temperatures in the last couple days solidly locked up the moist snow. Other than a couple very small and manageable wind slabs, no new avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone since last week's wet activity.

Here's a link to our updated Avalanche List.

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

Sustained and gusty southwest winds yesterday and overnight drifted fresh snow into lee slopes and deposition areas at upper elevations. The wind shifted from the west-northwest early this morning and is forecast to continue blowing today. Watch for and avoid smooth, stiffer, chalky-looking, and sometimes hollow sounding drifts on steep slopes. You might find fresh drifts in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, cliff bands, or gullies. Accumulations of new snow and continued westerly winds created heightened avalanche conditions at upper elevations today, and you might trigger (still generally manageable) wind slab avalanches on steep drifted slopes....

Additional Information

It'll be much colder today, with highs in the lower twenties, sustained west-northwest winds, and 1 or 2 inches of additional snow possible. Unsettled and cold weather is expected to persist through the weekend. Snow showers could continue tonight, mountain temperatures will likely drop into the single digits, and westerly winds will continue. Snow is likel tomorrow, with 2 to 4 inches of accumulation forecast, sub-twenty degree temperatures in the mountains and continued west winds. Snow showers and fairly cold wintry weather will continue through the weekend.

Check out the Logan Mountain Weather page...

General Announcements

For a printer friendly version of this advisory click HERE

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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