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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Friday morning, February 3, 2017

The danger is LOW on most slopes in the Logan Zone, but pockets of heightened avalanche conditions exist. Triggered persistent slab avalanches, 2' deep, are unlikely but possible on slopes with buried weak layers. Increasing southwest winds will cause a rising danger of wind slab avalanches in drifted terrain. Rain at lower elevations may cause a heightened danger of wet avalanches on steep slopes. Get up to the mountains for some fresh air, but evaluate snow and terrain carefully.

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Weather and Snow

A weak Pacific storm system will begin to erode the entrenched inversion, and relief from the valley smog is headed our way. The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 1 inch of new snow in the last 24 hrs. It's 28 F and there is 93" of total snow containing 149% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent.) It's 22 F at the CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700', and the wind is from the south at 18 mph. The snow in the backcountry is stable in most places, but a scattering of unstable areas exist. Triggered avalanches, 2' deep, on buried surface hoar or facets capping a sun-crust are unlikely but possible on isolated mid-elevation slopes. Sustained southwest winds the past several days stripped snow off of windward slopes and created drifts at upper elevations. Most exposed slopes have wind-crust, sastrugi, or stiff wind slabs. Wind slab avalanches are possible to trigger in drifted terrain. South facing and low elevation slopes are crusty from sun or warmth, but rain at lower elevations could create heightened wet avalanche conditions on slopes with saturated snow.

NWS radar and satellite water vapor imagery from 2/3/17, showing the next wave of Pacific storminess to affect the region. Air quality in Cache Valley will improve during the next 24 hours.

Recent Avalanches

It's been more than a week since any significant avalanches have been reported in the Logan Zone.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Triggered persistent slab avalanches around 2 feet deep are unlikely yet possible in isolated mid-elevation terrain.
  • Buried surface hoar exists mainly in sheltered mid and lower elevation terrain, but is found on east, north, and west facing slopes.
  • A weak layer of small facets on top of a sun-crust still plagues some sunny mid elevation slopes.
  • You will have to dig down into the snow a couple feet to find the buried persistent weak layers.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Drifting from increasing southwest winds today will create fresh wind slabs and build cornices in exposed terrain.
  • Wind slabs made up of stiffer drifted snow often look rounded and chalky and may produce hollow, drum-like sounds.
  • Avoid drifted snow on the lee side of ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, sub-ridges, and cliff-bands.
  • Cornices could break further back than expected and may trigger avalanches on drifted slopes below.
Avalanche Problem #3
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Rain at low elevations may cause a heightened danger of wet avalanches. Avoid and stay out from under steep slopes with saturated snow.

Additional Information

The National Weather Service in Pocatello ID has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the mountains in Franklin and Bear Lake counties. A series of weak weather systems will cross the northern portions of the area through Saturday. The stormy pattern will continue into next week. Snow is likely this afternoon, with 1 to 2 inches likely. The high temperature at 8500' is expected to reach 33 F, and southwest winds will increase to 15 to 20 mph. Snow is likely tonight, with a temperature around 32 F, southwest winds 20 to 25 mph gusting to 40 mph, and 3 to 5 inches of snow. Snowfall and breezy conditions will continue tomorrow, with 2 to 4 inches of snow forecast, 29 F, and 20 to 25 mph west winds.

General Announcements

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Your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. You can call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include @utavy in your Instagram. In the Logan Area you can reach me at 435-757-7578

We will update this advisory regularly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by about 7:30.

This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.

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