UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Wednesday morning, March 12, 2025
Areas with heightened avalanche conditions exist in drifted upper elevation terrain, where the danger is MODERATE. People could trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. The danger is LOW elsewhere this morning, but warm temperatures and intense sun will again elevate the hazard during the day; avalanches of wet snow and large cornice falls are possible.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, continue to practice safe travel protocols, and use normal caution.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
Drifting by increasing winds from the south-southwest created small but hard wind slabs on the lee sides of major ridges and in and around upper elevation terrain features. The snow in select high shady terrain might still be in decent condition this morning, but powder riding options are quite limited today. We'll find surface crusts of differing thicknesses on most slopes this morning, but once the sun climbs high enough, its sharp March angle will soften the crusts. Increasing winds from the south-southwest should help keep the snow surface cool, but increasing cloud cover may trap the heat in sheltered terrain. As the snow becomes saturated, heightened avalanche conditions could develop in some areas.
Low elevation terrain facing the south half of the compass melted off and is bare of snow or has only very shallow snow cover.

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet reports 32° F, with 90 inches of total snow. It's 30° F at the Card Canyon weather station with 67 inches of total snow. At 9700 feet at CSI's Logan Peak Wx station, increasing winds are blowing 29 to 37 mph from the south-southwest, and it's 25° F. On Paris Peak at 9500 feet, it's also 25° F, with winds blowing 12 to 23 mph from the south-southwest.

Expect increasing clouds today, with high temperatures at 8500 feet near 40° F. Increasing winds from the south-southwest will blow 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Tonight will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature around 30° F. Winds will continue to increase from the south-southwest, blowing 21 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Snowfall will commence in the early morning hours. A strong winter storm with increasing winds from the south-southwest will impact the Logan Zone and elevate the avalanche danger tomorrow. Temperatures will be warm, around 35° F. Snow will be heavy at times, and it will be drifted by strong winds from the south-southwest, with 6 to 10 inches of accumulation in favored locations possible by evening. Another 3 to 5 inches is possible with drifting by west winds on Thursday night.

For more information, visit the UAC weather page here: Weather - Utah Avalanche Center
For Logan-specific weather, go here: Logan Mountain Weather - Utah Avalanche Center
Recent Avalanches
We are very sad to report a fatal avalanche accident occurred on Friday, March 7 in the Western Uinta Mountains near Kamas. Preliminary accident report is HERE
-Large and small natural wet avalanches were reported and observed in sunny terrain at all elevations across the Logan Zone over the weekend. Wet activity tapered off early this week as the snow is adjusting to the heat.
Read about all avalanches and observations HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Drifting by increasing winds blowing from the south-southwest deposited stiff wind slabs in upper elevation terrain, and people could trigger small but hard wind slabs.
  • Watch for and avoid pockets of stiff wind drifted snow on the lee side of major ridges, below cornices, and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, and gully walls.
  • Wind slabs appear smooth, chalky, and rounded, and they can sound hollow, like a drum, when you move around on them.
  • Cracking is a red flag indicating unstable snow.
  • Wind slabs sometimes let you get out on them before releasing suddenly.
  • People should stay off of, out from under, and well away from large overhanging cornices, which are deceptive and often break much further back than expected.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Despite a cooling breeze today, solar heating and warm mountain temperatures will again elevate the danger of wet avalanches in sheltered sunny terrain.
  • If the snow you are in starts to feel soft and saturated, move to cooler aspects or higher elevations, or avoid travel in steep terrain altogether.
  • Natural cornice falls are possible during the heat of the day, and these could trigger avalanches on slopes beneath.
Additional Information
Reports verify numerous natural wet avalanches occurred due to the warmth in the past few days across the zone on most aspects and elevations... Dean Harris sent in this picture with a group of recent loose wet avalanches off a rock band in the Adams Corral area of Red Pine Ridge (3-10-25). Expect elevated wet avalanche conditions with warm temperatures again today.
General Announcements
-National Forest Winter Recreation Travel Maps show where it's open to ride: UWCNF Logan, Ogden LRD Tony Grove, Franklin Basin CTNF Montpelier
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This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions, and local variations always occur.