There are many pockets with a level 2 or Moderate danger in the backcountry around Logan. Lingering buried persistent weak layers, sustained winds, and warming mountain temperatures all indicate heightened avalanche conditions, and triggered avalanches are possible on some steep slopes this weekend. At the same time, there is a level 1 or Low danger and stable snow conditions can be found on the majority of steep slopes in the zone. Although unlikely and in isolated locations, persistent hard slab avalanches could be unmanageable, destructive, and dangerous. They could be triggered remotely and involve snow on lower angled slopes than you might expect. Wind slab and cornice fall type avalanches are possible in drifted upper elevation terrain. Solar warming and green-housing could cause an increasing danger of wet avalanches on slopes with soft and saturated surface snow. Use normal caution, continue to follow safe travel protocols, and evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.

You can find nice shallow powder riding conditions on a supportable base, especially nice in sheltered and shady terrain.. Sunny slopes are alternating between being soft and mushy to variable and crusty.

Temperatures cooled a bit overnight and it's 26 degrees up at the Tony Grove Snotel at 8400', and with 90 inches of total snow on the ground, the snow at the station contains just a little less than150% of normal water content for the date.... The rime on the wind sensor at the Campbell Scientific Logan Peak weather station melted off yesterday as forecast, and is now reading westerly winds averaging in the teens. The winds appear to be subsiding a bit overnight since yesterday evening mid-twenties averages from the southwest.

Yesterday, while investigating recent activity a couple avalanche professionals from the UAC and UDOT remote triggered another good sized hard slab avalanche releasing on buried surface hoar under the solid rime-crust in the Provo Area Mountains. Snow Safety teams at a Wasatch Ski Area report triggering similar dangerous avalanches with explosives this week, and riders triggered a handful of similar slides in the Western Uinta range over the past several days. No significant avalanches have been reported from the Logan Area since the widespread natural cycle over the MLK-weekend, in which the avalanches failed on weak layer formed and buried at the same time, (around 1/8)....

Check our backcountry avalanche list.... HERE

Expect increasing clouds today, with mountain temperatures rising a few degrees above freezing and fairly light southwest winds. Snow will develop by tomorrow afternoon and we could pick up a few inches of snow, with 4 to 8 inches of accumulation forecast to fall in the mountains by Monday night. Intensifying northwest winds on Monday and a bit of fresh and falling snow to drift around will probably cause an increase in the avalanche danger...

Come to the TSC Ballroom at USU at 7:00 on Monday January 31,and support local filmmaker Jeremy Jensen at the first showing of "Powder Day Saints, the Second Coming", a locally produced snowboard, ski, powdersurfing film featuring local riders..

You can view a photo summary of last year's avalanche activity in the Logan Area HERE

Join the friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan on facebook. Click HERE

I will update this advisory in the mornings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and on other days if backcountry avalanche conditions warrant...

You have the opportunity to participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or Toby at 435-757-7578, or email by clicking HERE

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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 occur.