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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Monday morning, March 20, 2017

Heightened wet avalanche conditions exist on steep slopes in the backcountry. The danger is MODERATE, and cornice-fall, loose wet, wet slab, and glide avalanches are possible, most likely during the heat of the day. More dangerous conditions exist on corniced ridge-lines and steep upper elevation east facing slopes. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Stay off of and out from under large cornices, glide cracks, and steep slopes with warmth-softened wet snow.

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Discount lift tickets for Beaver Mountain, Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, and the Central Wasatch resorts are donated by the resorts to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details and order information here.

Weather and Snow

Unseasonably warm weather continues and snow is melting fast at low elevations and in sunny terrain. Temperatures stayed well above freezing last night across the zone, and cloudy skies limited long-wave radiation heat loss. This morning, the surface of wet snow will have a thin superficial refreeze, which will quickly soften as the day warms. The Tony Grove Snotel ​at 8400' reports 40 °F and 103" of total snow, with 149% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent)​. A 9 mph southwest wind is blowing at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station and it's 37 °F. It'll be mostly cloudy and warm in the mountains today, with a chance of thunder showers. Heightened wet avalanche conditions exist in steep terrain.

Recent Avalanches

A large cornice fall avalanche occurred Sunday at around 1:00 PM. The avalanche could have been human triggered, there were sledders in the area, but nobody was caught. Apparently, the cornice "thundered" as it collapsed and ran downslope, entaining wet snow in descent.

Extrordinarily large cornices are unstable due to several days of unseasonably warm weather.

Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Triggered and natural loose wet avalanches are possible on steep slopes during the heat of the day.

  • Watch for signs of wet instability like roller balls, pinwheels and natural sluffs under trees or rock outcroppings.
  • Avoid being on or under steep slopes if wet snow is soft and unsupportable.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Glide and wet slab avalanches avalanches are possible in steep terrain and can occur anytime of day during this unseasonably warm weather.

Avoid being under glide cracks like these on the slabs near Rodeo Ridge above the Ogden Valley. In warm weather, you never know when a glide avalanche might occur.

Avalanche Problem #3
Cornice
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Very warm temperatures will cause cornices to buckle and calve naturally. Large natural cornice falls are most likely during the heat of the day, but possible anytime.
  • Huge, overhanging cornices can break further back than expected and trigger avalanches on slopes below.

Overhanging cornices the size of enclosed snowmobile trailers are collapsing due to heat and causing wet avalanches.

Additional Information

A very mild southwest flow will continue today and tomorrow. A change in the weather and a more active pattern will develop by mid week and continue through next weekend. Today there's a chance of rain, snow and thunder showers. It'll be mostly cloudy, a high temperature at 8500' of 50 °F and 15 to 20 mph southwest wind. A chance of showers and thunder will continue tonight. It'll be mostly cloudy, a low temperature of 40 °F and 7 to 16 mph south wind. Tomorrow will be partly sunny, a high temperature of 51 °F and 11 to 18 mph southwest wind.

General Announcements

Do you buy groceries at Smiths? When you register your Smith’s rewards card with their Community Rewards program, they will donate to the Utah Avalanche Center whenever you make a purchase. It's easy, only takes a minute, and doesn't cost you anything. Details here.

If you sign up for AmazonSmile and designate the Utah Avalanche Center as your favorite charity, they will donate a portion of everything you spend to the UAC. It doesn't cost you a penny and we'd really appreciate the help.

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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