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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Paige Pagnucco
Issued by Paige Pagnucco on
Sunday morning, February 25, 2024
You'll still find nice powder riding conditions in northerly facing terrain, but elevated avalanche conditions exist, and human-triggered avalanches are possible in the backcountry. The danger is MODERATE on slopes steeper than 30° at all elevations.
  • On upper and mid-elevation east, south, and west-facing slopes, people could trigger large avalanches failing around 2 feet deep on a thin, persistent weak layer above a melt-freeze crust.
  • Avalanches of wind-drifted snow and cornice falls are possible in high mountain terrain.
  • Wet avalanches entraining heavy piles of moist surface snow, will become possible on sunny slopes at all elevations in the midday heat.
  • Safer conditions, stable snow, and generally LOW danger can be found on lower angled slopes and in most northerly facing sheltered terrain.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, especially on drifted slopes with a solid melt-freeze crust buried 2 to 3 feet deep. Avoid being on or under steep, sunny slopes with saturated new snow.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
Today will be another beautiful day in the mountains with nice settled powder conditions in mainly northerly-facing terrain. Unfortunately, warm temperatures and strong sunshine have affected the snow in the meadows and on most slopes, so youi'll find crusty conditions in the morning and heavy, moist snow later in the day.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 26° F this morning, with 103" of total snow containing around 123% of normal SWE (snow water equivalent). The wind is blowing from the southwest this morning around 28 mph and gusting to 47 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. At 9500' on Paris Peak, winds are blowing from the southwest at around 20 mph, and it's 19° F.
Today will be warm and windy in the mountains ahead of a storm rolling into our zone tomorrow. High temperatures at 8500' are expected to be around 35° F and around 44° F down lower in Logan Canyon. Winds from the southwest will increase around midday. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Monday through Tuesday evening. The forecast is calling for periods of heavy snowfall and very strong winds throughout the Warning period. Snowfall amounts at upper elevations could be 10-20" in total.
Recent Avalanches
An observer noticed a fairly large natural slab avalanche in Rattlesnake Canyon (Wellsville range) on a south-facing slope around 8400' which occurred recently.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
This natural avalanche in Rattlesnake Canyon likely occurred sometime yesterday (2/24). pc:Schumacher
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
In some outlying upper and mid-elevation terrain on slopes generally facing the southern half of the compass (east through south through west), human-triggered avalanches could fail on a sugary, persistent weak layer on top of a melt-freeze crust buried 2 to 3 feet deep. The problem is more pronounced in sunny terrain and the natural avalanche in Rattlesnake Canyon is evidence this problem still exists and could be of high consequence in certain terrain.
  • Identifying this avalanche problem requires getting out your shovel, digging on nearby safe test slopes, and performing stability tests to see how reactive the weak layer is.
  • Avalanches might be triggered remotely, from a distance or below.
  • Audible collapses or whumpfs and shooting cracks are obvious signs of instability, but these red flags may not be present when avalanches occur.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Human-triggered avalanches of wind-drifted snow and cornice falls are possible in drifted upper and mid-elevation terrain today. Winds from the southwest have increased and will again this afternoon.
  • Watch for and avoid fresh wind drifts on the lee side of major ridges, corniced slopes, and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, sub-ridges, gully walls, and mid-slope rollovers.
  • Stay well away from and out from under overhanging cornices, which may break further back than expected.
Avalanche Problem #3
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
With sunny skies and way above-freezing temperatures again in today's forecast, wet avalanches entraining saturated surface snow will become possible in sunny terrain in the heat of the day.
  • Roller balls, pinwheels and natural sluffs or loose avalanches are signs of instability.
  • If you sink into the wet snow past your ankles, move to a cooler/shadier aspect or elevation.
Additional Information
A natural avalanche in the Mt Naomi Wilderness was observed from a distance on Friday afternoon. This likely failed on a thin, sugary, persistent weak layer.
General Announcements
-Listen to your very own Logan Zone avalanche forecasters on the UAC Podcast HERE.
-Read my recent blog about wind, drifting, and avalanches HERE.
-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.
-Come practice companion rescue at the Franklin Basin TH Beacon Training Park. It's free and open to everyone. For easy user instructions, 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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