Continuing strong southwest winds and snowfall will cause rising avalanche danger today. Dangerous conditions exist this morning on some upper elevation slopes where human triggered wind slab avalanches 1 to 3 feet deep are likely. You can still find stellar powder conditions in sheltered terrain, and cold temperatures have kept it nice even on sunny slopes.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 4 inches of new snow early this morning. It's 24º F and there's 89" of total snow containing 102% of average SWE for the date. It's 19º F, at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and southwest winds are currently averaging around 35 mph, with a 55 mph gust early this morning.
The National Weather Service in Pocatello has continued a
Winter Storm Warning for the Bear River Range in SE Idaho due to snow and drifting. Several weak disturbances will impact northern Utah through Thursday morning. A stronger storm will impact much of the state Thursday into Friday.
Snow showers will continue today, with 2 to 4 inches possible. High temperatures at 8500' are expected to be around 30º F, with 25 to 35 mph southwest winds, gusting to around 50 mph. It will snow tonight, with 2 to 4 inches possible, low temperatures expected to be around 19º F, with continuing 30 to 35 mph southwest winds gusting to around 50 mph. Snow is likely tomorrow, with 3 to 7 inches possible, and the sustained southwest winds will continue to build huge cornices and drift snow into upper elevation north and east facing avalanche starting zones at 30 to 35 mph with gusts around 50 mph.
A couple parties report triggering 1 to 3 foot deep avalanches and observing naturals involving wind drifted snow in the Ogden Area Backcountry yesterday.
A large natural hard slab avalanche was triggered by cornice fall in upper Chalk Creek in the Western Uinta Range. The avalanche occurred after southwest winds intensified Saturday Night.