31st Annual Backcountry Benefit - September 12th - Tickets Available Here!
Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation NEW - Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Saturday morning, April 13, 2013

Heightened avalanche conditions exist and there is a MODERATE (or level 2) danger in the backcountry. You could trigger wind slab avalanches on steep slopes with recent deposits wind drifted snow, and cornice falls are possible. Rising midday temperatures will also create heightened avalanche conditions in steep terrain, with triggered wet and/or heat related avalanches possible on steep slopes. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, avoid steep drifted terrain and steep slopes with warming or saturated fresh snow.

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

Yesterday, five UDOT forecasters and three UAC forecasters visited the site of the very tragic fatality of UDOT avalanche forecaster Craig Patterson on Thursday. We posted a preliminary report with photos on our website. Our hearts go out to his family and all his other friends. Craig was widely loved and admired by all.

One of the rescuers summed it up best, "It was a very small avalanche with a very bad ride." Note: all media inquiries on this accident should be directed to UDOT.

Weather and Snow

The Tony Grove Snotel reports 36 degrees and 55 inches of total snow, containing 63% of average water for the date. The station recorded a couple feet of accumulation and 3.2 inches of snow-water equivalent in the last week, (since last Friday morning.) The CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700' reports 23 degrees and sustained southwest winds averaging close to 30 mph this morning. Most of the fresh snow from earlier in the week will probably be a bit crusty this morning, and you'll find crusts of varying thicknesses and supportability on slopes facing all directions and elevations.

Recent Avalanches

Here is the preliminary report on Thursday's tragic and fatal avalanche accident in Big Cottonwood Canyon in the salt Lake Area Mountains, which killed friend and fellow avalanche forecaster, Craig Patterson. The deadly wind slab avalanche wasn't all that big, but it took him down for a very nasty ride in steep terrain. ......... Here

No significant new avalanches were reported recently in the Logan Area, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised to hear of or observe evidence of some from this week.

Here's a link to our updated Avalanche List.

Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Strong and sustained southwest winds overnight and this morning probably formed a few new stiff wind slabs at upper elevations.
  • Deeper triggered wind slab avalanches, 1 to 3-feet deep, from the weird northeasterly storm earlier in the week remain possible in drifted upper elevation terrain, and midday warming could make these more sensitive to triggering. Watch for and avoid stiffer snow and fresh drifts on the lee of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, rock bands, and gullies.
  • Recently built-up and greatly enlarged cornices are also a concern, as they may still be somewhat sensitive today, might break further back than you expect, and could trigger significant slab avalanches on slopes below. Warmth and strong sun today will cause these guys to sag and buckle, and some may naturally calve off during the midday heat.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • After a night of above freezing temperatures, midday warming will cause the crusts on this week's fresher snow to become softened and saturated, and loose moist snow is more likely to avalanche in steep terrain.
  • Triggered moist sluffs or point release type avalanches could entrain significant snow in descent and pile up deeply below steep slopes. Be sure nobody is below or above you, and watch for potential terrain traps....
  • As usual in the spring, it's best to make an early exit from the backcountry before the snow gets sloppy and wet
Additional Information

Snow showers are likely today after around noon, we'll see fairly strong and intensifying west-southwest winds, 9000' midday high temperatures are expected to be close to 40 degrees , and 1 to 3 inches of accumulation is forecast. Snow showers and diminishing winds should continue through tonight, with another inch of accumulation possible. Temperatures will be around 10 degrees cooler tomorrow and it'll stay mostly cloudy. Another colder and stronger storm system is expected to move over the region Sunday night and control the local weather pattern through Wednesday...

Check out the Logan Mountain Weather page...

General Announcements

For a printer friendly version of this advisory click HERE

iPhone & iPad users: With help from Backcountry.com & Garafa, LLC, we now have a free mobile app that combines the best of the UAC advisories, observations, and weather summaries with National Weather Service products & UDOT road updates. This puts the tools you need for planning your day and your run in one handy mobile package. Check it out, tell your friends, and let us know what you think.http://utahavalanchecenter.org/apps

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.

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.

Next forecast >