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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Monday morning, January 1, 2024
Happy New Year 2024. The avalanche danger is LOW in the backcountry.
Usual caution is recommended, with shallow snow conditions the primary concern.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
We're finding a mixed bag of conditions, with mostly supportable crusts and bare slopes in sunny terrain, wind-jacked snow surface on exposed slopes, and "loud powder" consisting of recrystallized or faceted snow and glistening feathers of surface hoar in sheltered terrain. Travel in the backcountry is reasonably easy and generally safe on mostly supportable, fast snow. Shallow, early-season conditions exist, and hitting rocks or down trees is a significant consideration.
With 92% of normal SWE, the Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 29° F and 40” of total snow. Light winds are blowing from the west < 10 mph, with gusts around 15 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station.
The weather will remain mostly the same as it has been through the middle of the work week, but a change is on the way. A storm will bring snow to the mountains of southern Utah on Thursday and Friday, with some light snow possible in the northern mountains. Confidence is growing that a potentially significant winter storm will impact the mountains of northern Utah and southeastern Idaho later this weekend, with timing and snow amounts still up in the air.
Recent Avalanches
No avalanches were reported recently in the Logan Zone.
Check out local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
In isolated areas, it might be possible to trigger small slab avalanches of wind-drifted snow close to ridgelines or dry, loose avalanches on steep, shady slopes as the snow surface weakens.
Up high on slopes facing west, north, and east, triggering a dangerous avalanche failing on a persistent weak layer is unlikely. Still, the potential is not to be forgotten if you venture into isolated, steep, rocky terrain with shallow snow and poor snow structure where a thick slab of heavy snow from early December overlies weak, sugary snow from November. If you sink through soft, sugary snow to the ground when you get off your sled or if you can stick your ski pole to the bottom, you should avoid being on slopes steeper than 30°.
Always follow safe travel protocols on or under slopes steeper than 30°.
  • Be sure everyone in your party has working avalanche rescue equipment, including a transceiver, probe, and shovel. Practice with this equipment regularly, and include and instruct new partners.
  • Cross avalanche paths and runout zones one person at a time, with the rest of the party watching from a safe place.
  • Reevaluate and be willing to change your plans if you encounter any signs of instability, like recent avalanches, audible collapses (whumpfs), or cracking in drifted snow.
Additional Information
In many areas, the snow on and just under the surface is quite weak, consisting of sugary, near-surface facets, and in many places, it's capped by feathers of surface hoar. When this weak surface snow is buried by a good load of drifted new snow, it will probably become a dangerous buried persistent weak layer.
With a significant storm apparently likely for the coming weekend, we can expect alluring powder conditions as well as a rapid rise in avalanche danger.
Two new weather stations are found in the Logan Zone this season. The Paris Peak Weather Station (available HERE) and the Card Canyon Weather Station (available HERE)
We went up to check on our new Paris Peak weather station on Saturday. It's looking good and working well, giving us real-time weather, including relevant ridgetop wind information. For more information on what we found in the Bloomington Canyon Area last weekend, check out our observation HERE.
General Announcements
  • For all questions on forecasts, education, KBYG, events, online purchases, or fundraising: call 801-365-5522.
  • To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry: go HERE
  • Read Mark's blog about electromagnetic interference of avalanche transceivers HERE.
    We will update this forecast on Wednesday before 7:30 AM.
    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.
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