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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Wednesday morning, January 29, 2025
The snow on most slopes is stable, and the avalanche danger is LOW in the backcountry. Exceptions exist; people might trigger wind slab avalanches on recently drifted slopes, and small wet avalanches are possible on steep sunny slopes as temperatures rise during the day.
Use normal caution and follow safe travel protocols by exposing only one person at a time to avalanche risk.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Urgent battery replacement is required for anyone who received batteries from one of our participating "Batteries for Beacons" shops. Please review the replacement notice for "Batteries for Beacons" on our blog, HERE. Batteries distributed through our "Batteries for Beacons" program this year are of inadequate length. We apologize and will provide you with new batteries.
Weather and Snow
Now is a good time for people to do a mid-season gear check. Replace your batteries and drag your backcountry partners over to the Beacon Park at the Franklin Basin TH to practice companion rescue. It's actually surprisingly good fun, especially when the backcountry snow is not so good. Recent strong winds destroyed the powder in most areas, and stiff drifts, windboard, and satrugi are widespread across the zone, even in normally sheltered and forested areas. The snow is deceptively inconsistent, solid and supportable on most slopes but with interspersed pockets of recrystallized powder. Most slopes sport shallowly buried wind or sun crusts, and you never feel sure whether or not the crust will break under your weight and throw you off balance.
While the snow is stable in most areas, exceptions exist on recently drifted slopes steeper than 30°, where people might trigger wind slab avalanches of wind-drifted snow failing 1-2 feet deep on sugary, faceted snow. Strong winds blowing from all directions last week and over the weekend built stiff slabs on this layer of weak snow, and some could be balanced, awaiting someone to come along and trigger them. Watch for shooting cracks indicating instability, and avoid hollow-sounding or rounded pillows of snow. Recent winds were blowing out of the east, and east winds are unusual, so look for wind slabs in unusual places and avoid them. Small, loose, wet avalanches are possible on steep, sunny slopes as mountain temperatures rise during the day.
-The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400 feet reports 29° F, with 55 inches of total snow. At the Card Canyon weather station at 8800 feet, it's 26° F and there is 43 inches of total snow.
-At the CSI Logan Peak weather station at 9700 feet, winds are blowing lightly from the north-northeast 21 to 26 mph, and it's 25° F. On Paris Peak, at 9500 feet, it is 24° F, and the winds are blowing from the north-northeast at 13 to 18 mph.
NWS Point Fx for Naomi Peak area: Today: Sunny, with a high near 35° F. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 14° F. North-northwest wind around 6 mph. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 29° F. West wind 6 to 10 mph.
Clouds and winds from the south-southwest will increase on Friday, and 2 to 4 inches of new snow is possible. Snow is expected over the weekend in the Logan Zone, and it could be heavy at times, with 12 to 20 inches of accumulation in the forecast for Friday night and Saturday, and snow continuing through the weekend...
Subject to an extreme temperature gradient caused by a prolonged dry spell with cold temperatures and clear nights, the snow near the surface has become very weak and faceted. Heavy snow and drifting from the incoming storm will overload these sugary weak layers and significantly elevate avalanche danger.
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
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
After drifting by strong winds from every direction, including from the east, human-triggered avalanches of wind-drifted snow are possible on drifted slopes facing all directions. These are most likely found at upper elevations but may also exist down lower. Some wind slabs formed on weak faceted surface snow, a persistent weak layer, and these may remain sensitive to human triggering for several days after they were formed.
  • Recent drifts and wind slabs are easy to identify. They are often lense-shaped or rounded and chalky looking and may produce hollow drum-like sounds when you move around on them. Wind-drifted snow is generally stiffer than the surrounding snow.
  • Wind slabs are most likely on the lee side of ridges, near cornices, and around terrain features like cliff bands and gullies.
  • Softer wind slabs may be sensitive and easy to trigger, and harder slabs may wait till you get out on them and then release suddenly.
  • Watch for shooting cracks, a clear sign of instability, and be aware that some wind slabs may be triggered remotely.
Avalanche Problem #2
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Warmer temperatures than we've seen in a while are expected today. Solar warming will probably moisten the surface snow, and small, loose wet avalanches are possible on steep, sunny slopes. Rapid warming, roller balls, pinwheels, and surface sluffs indicate potential for wet avalanche activity. If the snow you're in gets damp and sticky, move to shadier terrain.
Deep hard slab avalanches are unlikely, yet still possible in outlying or extreme mountain terrain. A dormant, persistent weak layer near the ground is still a potential problem on recently drifted outlying slopes, and rocky, windswept slopes in northerly-facing terrain with thin snow cover are suspect. Isolated hard slab avalanches might be triggered from a "sweet spot" or a shallower part of the slab.
Check out Paige's Blog HERE
Additional Information
Anna R. found some wind-jacked snow in Logan Dry Canyon on Sunday. Her observation is HERE
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
-For all questions on forecasts, education, Know Before You Go, events, online purchases, or fundraising, call 801-365-5522.
-Remember the information you provide could save lives, especially if you see or trigger an avalanche. To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry, go HERE.
-Receive forecast region-specific text message alerts to receive messages about changing avalanche conditions, watches, and warnings. Sign up and update your preferences HERE.
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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