It's way too warm in the mountains this morning , with 35 degrees at 5:00 at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel. There's 71 inches of total snow, containing 106% of average water content for the date. The 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station reports a balmy 36 degrees and an increase in southwest wind overnight, currently averaging 26 mph and gusting into the thirties. Sun and warmth in the daytime and radiation heat-loss durring the clear nights are causing the snow surface to cycle between saturated midday to refrozen melt/freeze crusts of widely varying thickness at night and in the mornings. You might find some hidden stashes on the more north facing slopes, with nice smooth and fast settled or recrystalized powder.
Natural loose wet avalanches are flowing off south facing slopes these days like hot wax off an old candle. The activity appears to be occurring midday, working it's way around the south half of the compass with the sun. Wet avalanches were triggered recently in the heat of the day by snow rolling off rocks, tree bombs, and even moose.
A fresh natural loose wet avalanche on the north side of Logan Dry Canyon. (Gottlieb, 2-9-16)
An observer on the west shore of Bear Lake, in Fish Haven Idaho, reports a fairly large fresh hard slab avalanche viewed on Sunday on a east facing slope at around 7100' in elevation. It looks like westerly winds over the weekend were enough to overload a slope plagued by weak sugary or faceted snow near the ground. view the Avalanche Report
A wind slab formed by drifting from sustained westerly winds released on a fairly low elevation slope over the weekend near Fish Haven. The avalanche appears to have stepped down into weak faceted snow near the ground, which is widespread in the area. (Tavis, 2-7-16)
***To view our updated list of backcountry observations and avalanche activity from around Utah, go to our observations page