Yesterday's storm was quite productive for the Bear River Range. The Tony Grove Snotel now reports 21 inches of total snow with 3.3 inches of water equivalent, amazingly back up to 100% of normal water content for the date. The Snotel reports around a foot-and-a-half of new snow yesterday (compressed down to 12 inches on the total snow stake) with 1.8 inches of water in the last 24 hours and 2.3 in the last 48. It's 20 degrees up at 8400' and 13 up at the 9700' Logan Peak weather station where sustained southwest and west wind blew all day long yesterday, averaging in the mid twenties with a recorded gust in excess of 60 mph yesterday evening. It was also very windy yesterday in Logan Canyon, with sustained average wind speeds of around 40 mph and gusts of 55 recorded at the hwy 89 Logan Summit weather station. Expect a cold and breezy day in the mountains today with a forecast wind chill of -1 degree. The Tony Grove Road is not maintained for wheeled travel in the winter, and yesterday's storm likely made the drive a bit tricky.
It's a good time to check your avalanche rescue equipment, change to fresh batteries in your beacon, and test it's range. Refresh yourself and your partners with easy companion rescue scenarios in the early season. History shows that early season avalanches are not uncommon in the area, and you might as well start the winter season on top of your game.
No avalanches have yet been reported in the backcountry around Logan, but a few naturals probably occurred overnight at upper elevations.