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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Wednesday morning, February 20, 2019
CONSIDERABLE: Dangerous avalanche conditions are developing on drifted upper elevation slopes. Southwest winds picked up overnight, drifting fresh low density snow into avalanche starting zones. Avalanches and cornice falls consisting of wind drifted snow are possible on many slopes and becoming likely on some. Fine powder is plentiful in the backcountry, and you can find safer conditions, mostly stable snow, and Low danger at lower elevations, in sheltered terrain, and on slopes less than about 30 degrees in steepness.
  • Make conservative decisions, evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and use extra caution if traveling at upper elevations.
  • Beware of large ridge-top cornices and steep slopes with recent deposits of wind drifted snow.
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Weather and Snow
There's a few inches of fresh, super light powder in the Logan Zone, but southwest winds picked up significantly overnight, building sensitive cornices and drifting the low density snow into slabs in avalanche starting zones. Upper elevations in the Logan Zone picked up over 2 feet of snow with over 4 inches of SWE with the Valentines Storm.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 6" of light new snow with .4" SWE in the past 24 hours. It's 7º F this morning and there's 90" of total snow containing 106% of average SWE for the date. It's -1º F, at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and southwest winds are currently averaging around 27 mph, gusting to 50 mph.
A potent winter storm will settle into the Great Basin today, then remain over the region through late in the week. Heavy snow associated with this storm will concentrate mainly across the southern two-thirds of Utah late today through early Friday. Expect snow today, with 3 to 5 inches possible. High temperatures at 8500' are expected to be around 17º F, and with 20 to 25 mph southwest winds, wind chills will be around -20º F. Tonight temperatures will be around 3º F, with 10 mph southwest winds, veering from the east-southeast after midnight. Mostly cloudy tomorrow, with a chance of a little snow, high temperatures around 16º F, and increasing 20 to 25 mph east winds with gusts in the 40s!
Recent Avalanches
Numerous natural avalanches involving heavy, drifted, and rain-saturated snow were observed this weekend on slopes at all elevations across the Logan Zone. Observers report triggering small soft slabs and sluffs including the soft new snow in steep terrain in the past couple days.
This large natural hard slab avalanche was observed Friday afternoon in upper Providence Canyon. The crown looks to be 6 to 8 feet deep and it's about 1000' wide.
There were several large avalanches at low elevations on the east side of the Wellsville Range involving wind drifted and rain saturated new snow. This one is at around 6000' on Maple Bench.
Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Southwest winds picked up overnight, and there's plenty of fresh transportable snow to drift at upper elevations. Heightened avalanche conditions exist on drifted upper and mid-elevation slopes and dangerous conditions are probably developing in some areas. Avalanches involving wind drifted snow could be small, soft, easily triggered, and manageable. or harder, larger, and much more dangerous. Hard wind slabs sometimes let people get out on them before releasing.
  • You should stay clear of ridge top cornices, which have grown quite large in places. Cornices are likely to break much further back than expected and may trigger large avalanches on steep slopes below.
  • Avoid wind drifted snow on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, scoops, stringers, cliff bands, and gullies.
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
It's unlikely for a person to trigger one, but dangerous avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer remain possible on isolated slopes with poor snow structure. Dangerous 2 to 5 feet deep hard slab avalanches are possible to trigger from a shallow area on the slope, and some might be triggered remotely, from a distance, or below. Be especially careful in areas with shallow snow cover or anywhere where you sink to the ground in weak snow when you get off your sled or skis. Continue to avoid wind drifted snow on very steep, rocky, or shallow slopes with poor snow structure.
Additional Information
I will update this forecast Friday morning.
The new weather station at the WSU Bloomington Canyon Yurt is up and running. Data available HERE
Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. You should check out and use the new Avalanche Beacon Training Park we set up at the Franklin Basin trailhead. Special thanks to Northstars Ultimate Outdoors and USU Outdoor Program for helping us to make this possible.
General Announcements
The Beaver Mountain Backside is the backcountry, and it is avalanche terrain. Same goes for the steep rocky terrain adjacent to Cherry Peak Resort. If you leave a ski area boundary, you and your partners should carry and practice with avalanche rescue equipment and follow safe backcountry travel protocols.
Check out the improved weather links, road conditions, and weather links for each forecast region on the new UAC IOS App. Do you use the NOAA point forecast? If so, now you can bookmark your favorite weather locations in "My Weather" in the App. HERE
Are you new to the backcountry or looking to refresh your skills? The UAC has released a free 5-part avalanche skills eLearning series. HERE
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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 call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram.
This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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