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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Thursday morning, January 14, 2021
Heightened avalanche conditions exist on mid and upper elevation slopes, and people could trigger dangerous avalanches failing on a sugary persistent weak layer near the ground. Strong winds yesterday and overnight created hard wind slabs, and there are areas with CONSIDERABLE danger on drifted slopes facing northwest through southeast at upper elevations where avalanches could be up to 3-feet-deep and a few hundred feet wide. Avalanches might be triggered remotely, from a distance, or from below. You'll find safer conditions in lower angled, sheltered, and lower elevation terrain.
  • Cracking and collapsing indicate unstable snow.
  • Evaluate snow carefully, choose your route cautiously, and make conservative decisions.
  • Continue to avoid and stay out from under drifted slopes steeper than about 30 degrees.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Sadly, I must report that on Friday, 1-8-2021, a 31-year-old male snowboarder from Clinton, Utah was killed in an avalanche in Dutch Draw in the backcountry near Park City. The final accident report is HERE.
Weather and Snow
ELEVATED AVALANCHE CONDITIONS EXIST IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. Very strong and gusty west winds yesterday and overnight raked upper elevation slopes and built hard drifts on lee slopes and in terrain dictated deposition areas. Powder riding and skiing conditions across the Logan Zone took a hit yesterday. Warmish temperatures, freezing rain and sleet turned the snow at all elevations into mashed potatoes, a zipper rime-crust formed in exposed terrain, and upper elevation snow is now pretty wind jacked, with satstugi, wind board, and breakable wind-crusts. The snow pack is generally quite shallow in the Logan Zone and we have a serious problem with widespread very weak sugary snow and a dangerous persistent weak layer near the ground on most slopes.
It will be mostly sunny today and 8500' temperatures are expected to be around 24°F. Northwest winds will gradually diminish, but will still be blowing along the ridges and creating wind chill values as low as -3°F. It will be fair and sunny this weekend as a high pressure system is dominating the weather pattern. Another weak storm will bring a chance for some light snow toward the beginning of next week.
Recent Avalanches
  • A local rider was caught in a large avalanche that came from above, and he was completely buried under three feet of snow in the Steep Hollow Area Friday, 1-8-2021. Thankfully, he was rescued in time by his riding partners. Watch the video HERE.
  • Lat week there were several large remotely triggered avalanches in the Logan Zone, all triggered by sledders or snow bikers, and luckily from a distance. See the avalanche list HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Very weak sugary or faceted snow near the ground is widespread across the region, and people could trigger avalanches where a slab of more cohesive snow has formed on top of the weak snow.
  • Avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer might be triggered remotely, from a distance, or worse from below!
  • Cracking and collapsing of the snow are a red flag, indicating unstable snow conditions.
The sugary, faceted crystals in this widespread persistent weak layer just fall out of the pit wall in some places. People could trigger dangerous avalanches where a cohesive slab has formed on top of this buried layer.
These large faceted grains are more like the size and texture of rock salt than sugar. This is classic depth hoar, and it's likely to haunt us later in the season when slopes are overloaded by inevitable storms.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
People could trigger avalanches of wind drifted snow, up to 3-foot-thick hard slab avalanches on steep slopes, where drifts formed on slopes with buried persistent weak layers.
  • Watch for and avoid drifted snow at upper and mid elevations near ridge tops and in and around terrain features like gullies, cliff bands, and sub ridges
  • Harder wind slabs may allow people to get out on them before releasing.
This is part of the crown of the Steep Hollow Avalanche from 1-8-2021. The avalanche involved hard previously wind drifted snow that failed on a deep persistent weak layer.
Additional Information
Check out our Blog featuring Paige and Greg discussing Danger Ratings and Persistent Weak Layers....HERE
Paige shows what we are talking about when we mention faceted snow in our forecasts. Watch the video HERE
This video shows what I found in Upper Providence Canyon last week...
General Announcements
Thanks to the generous support of our local resorts, Ski Utah, and Backcountry, discount lift tickets are now available. Support the UAC while you ski at the resorts this season. Tickets are available here.
Visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.
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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations....HERE. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.
I will update this forecast by around 7:30 tomorrow morning.
This forecast is from the USDA Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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