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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Saturday morning, January 13, 2024
Avalanches are very likely, and the danger is HIGH at all elevations in the backcountry. Heavy snowfall and strong winds overloaded a widespread buried weak layer, creating very dangerous avalanche conditions. Blizzard conditions will likely cause the danger to rise back up to EXTREME tonight, and very dangerous conditions are likely again tomorrow.
People should avoid travel in avalanche terrain at all elevations and stay off of and out from under drifted slopes steeper than 30°.
Low
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High
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Avalanche Warning
Strong winds and heavy snowfall have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Avalanches failing on a widespread persistent weak layer buried under the new snow are likely. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30°.
Special Announcements
Sign up for forecast region-specific text message alerts. You will receive messages about changing avalanche conditions, watches, and warnings...HERE
Weather and Snow
Natural avalanches are occurring in the backcountry, and if people venture into avalanche terrain, they are likely to trigger long-running, destructive, and life-threatening avalanches. Yesterday and overnight, strong, gusty, and sustained winds found plenty of fresh powder to drift into avalanche-starting zones at all elevations. Stiffer slabs now overload a widespread layer of very weak, sugary, or faceted snow from the December dry spell. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist on slopes steeper than 30°.
Yesterday and overnight, winds blowing from the west sustained hourly average speeds around 40 mph, with gusts close to 80 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. On Paris Peak this morning, the wind is blowing over 30 mph from the west, with gusts around 60 mph; it's -7° F, and the wind chill value is -36° F.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 4° F, 80" of total snow, with 10" of new snow in the last 24 hrs. About 36 inches of new snow accumulated at the site since Tuesday night with 4.9" SWE (snow water equivalent). It's 0° F and there's 57" of total snow at the new Card Canyon weather station, which is showing an increase of about 7 inches since yesterday morning.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the mountains in the Logan Zone through Monday. Expect another foot or two to accumulate on mountain slopes tonight with strong, gusty west winds. Clearing is expected Monday night; mostly sunny conditions are expected on Tuesday.
Recent Avalanches
A natural avalanche hit and crossed both lanes of Highway 89 at the Dugway in Logan Canyon early yesterday morning. UDOT avalanche mitigation work produced significant activity in the area yesterday evening.
Poor visibility again prevented views of most avalanche terrain yesterday. We noticed a good-sized natural avalanche in Beaver Canyon yesterday afternoon on an east-facing slope at 6800'. A couple more natural avalanches occurred overnight, hitting the road just above Temple Fork in Logan Canyon.
An observer reported sizable natural and remotely triggered avalanches at upper elevations on east and southeast-facing slopes in Cottonwood Canyon Thursday.
Check out local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Large, long-running, and destructive natural avalanches are likely! Layers of weak sugary snow or facets and feathery surface hoar developed during the prolonged December dry spell on and near the snow surface, and the snow in shallow areas became loose and sugary all the way to the ground. As new snow and drifting snow overload slopes plagued by the widespread persistent weak layer, avalanches are becoming increasingly likely. Today, natural and human-triggered slab avalanches will be large, destructive, and life-threatening.
  • Avalanches could be triggered remotely, from a distance, or worse, from below!
  • Collapsing or whumpfs and shooting cracks indicate unstable snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Wind-drifted snow now overloads slopes with poor snow structure, and large avalanches of wind drifted snow failing on the December persistent weak layer are likely. Watch for and avoid stiffer drifted snow on the Lee side of prominent ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gully walls, mid-slope rollovers, and cliff bands.
People should avoid being on and under drifted slopes at all elevations today.
  • Natural soft slab and loose avalanches of new snow are very likely today on slopes steeper than 30°, even in lower-elevation terrain. Natural avalanches are occurring, and people are very likely to trigger avalanches at all elevations in the backcountry, so be careful where you walk the dog or build a snowman, and avoid fishing beneath steep slopes with lots of new snow.
In fact, people should avoid playing, walking, running, or biking on or under all steep slopes, even those in the foothills!
Additional Information
Check out this short video from Dylan Anderson about a grouse-triggered avalanche on Thursday.
We observed a recent natural avalanche right off Hwy 89 in Beaver Canyon yesterday afternoon.
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.
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.
We will update this forecast by 7:30 AM tomorrow.
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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