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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Paige Pagnucco
Issued by Paige Pagnucco on
Sunday morning, December 29, 2024
The avalanche danger is HIGH today in the backcountry. Very heavy snowfall and drifting by strong winds have overloaded slopes with pre-existing weak snow. Natural avalanches and human-triggered avalanches are likely, especially on northerly-facing steep slopes at mid and upper elevations.
Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist, and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
People should avoid being on or beneath drifted upper-elevation slopes steeper than 30° and stay clear of obvious and historic avalanche paths and runouts.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Avalanche Warning
What: The avalanche danger is HIGH today.
Where: For the mountains of Northern Utah and Southeastern Idaho, including the Bear River Range and Wellsville Mountains.
Impacts: Heavy snowfall and strong winds have created widespread areas of unstable snow. Both human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely.
What to do: Avoid all avalanche terrain. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue equipment. Find safer riding conditions on slopes less than 30 degrees with no overhead hazard.
Special Announcements
Now is a great time to dial in your safety gear including putting fresh new batteries in your beacons! Local shops across the state will be handing out free Batteries for Beacons now until February 1, 2025. All you need to do is fill out a quick survey and grab the AAA or AA batteries you need to keep your beacon fresh this season. Find participating shops and more info HERE.
Weather and Snow
What a storm for the north! While the valleys have only seen rain, the mountains have gotten walloped with snow. The Tony Grove Snotel has picked up 2.2" of SWE (snow water equivalent) in the past 24 hours and almost 4.5" since Christmas! The heavy and dense snow is good for base building but not for avalanche conditions. With widespread poor structure from earlier in the season, the mountain snowpack cannot adjust quickly to that much water weight, and avalanches of all kinds are likely today. Avoid all avalanche terrain. Stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30°, as avalanches can be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below. Avalanche conditions are complicated, so we advise staying in low-angle terrain and meadows.
-The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 2.2" of SWE (snow water equivalent) and about 10 inches of settled new snow in the last 24 hours. It's 34° F, with 55 inches of total snow.
-Winds on Logan Peak are blowing from the southwest 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 53 mph and it's 28° F.
-It's 30° F at 8800 feet at our Card Canyon station, with about 7 inches of new snow and 41 inches total.
-On Paris Peak at 9500 feet in Bloomington Canyon, it is 27° F and the winds are blowing 20 to 32 mph from the south-southwest.
We'll have a bit of a lull in the action today before a cold front moves through this evening, bringing another shot of heavy snow. Temperatures in the mountains will be unseasonably warm today with an 8500' high of 36° F and winds will blow from the southwest around 10-15 MPH. We may get a few inches of snow throughout the day. Expect a dramatic shift in the weather later this afternoon into the evening with strong winds, heavy snowfall, and falling temperatures. We could see another six to ten inches of snow by Monday morning.
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
- On Christmas Eve, two local riders (brothers) had a very close call with a large avalanche in Steep Hollow in Franklin Basin. The avalanche was perhaps 2 feet deep and 700 feet wide. It occurred on a northeast-facing slope at around 9000 feet in elevation. The accident report is HERE.
- On our exit yesterday in low-angle terrain, we remotely triggered an avalanche of storm snow, highlighting the fragile nature of the snowpack. (photo below)
- You can read all recent local observations HERE.
Remotely-triggered avalanche from Saturday afternoon near Beginner Ridge.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Very weak, sugary, faceted snow exists on almost all northerly-facing slopes at upper and mid-elevations and large and dangerous avalanches are likely on drifted, steep slopes, including in more sheltered terrain.
  • Recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and collapsing (whumpfs) are signs of unstable snow but may not always be present.
  • Avalanches today could be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below.
  • Large natural avalanches may still be likely today as the new heavy dense snow sits atop a buried layer of weak, sugary, faceted snow from earlier in the season.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Winds have been cranking for days now, creating slabs of wind-drifted snow in exposed terrain. These drifts may allow you to get out onto them before releasing and may offer no signs of instability like cracking.
  • Avalanches of wind-drifted snow are most likely on the lee side of major ridges.
  • Drifting has formed wind slabs in exposed terrain and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, gullies, and scoops.
  • In some cases, wind slabs may be hanging in a delicate balance just waiting for a trigger. Larger avalanches stepping down to the widespread buried persistent weak layer are possible.
Avalanche Problem #3
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Heavy snowfall and rapid accumulations have increased the danger of loose and soft slab avalanches of new snow at all elevations and snow-covered slopes steeper than 30°. Natural avalanches are possible on any steep slope.
  • With a forecast high temperature of 36° F at 8500 ', light rain is expected today at low elevations. Wet avalanches may be possible on any steep, snow-covered slope with saturated snow.
Additional Information
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
-Sign up for forecast region-specific text message alerts. You will receive messages about changing avalanche conditions, watches, and warnings...HERE.
-For all questions on forecasts, education, Know Before You Go, events, online purchases, or fundraising, call 801-365-5522.
-To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry, go HERE.
-Remember that the Tony Grove Road is not maintained for winter driving. Treacherous snow-covered and icy conditions will be encountered.
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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