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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Monday morning, February 8, 2021
Heavy snowfall and drifting from strong winds in the past couple days have created dangerous avalanche conditions and CONSIDERABLE danger in the backcountry. People could trigger dangerous avalanches of wind drifted snow on steep slopes at all elevations. More dangerous conditions exist on drifted upper elevation slopes facing northwest through southeast. Buried persistent weak layers consisting of sugary faceted snow are widespread across the Logan Zone, and the serious threat of large and deadly avalanches failing on weak snow near the ground is quite real.
  • Use extreme caution in the backcountry. Expect unstable snow conditions. Choose safe routes in low angled terrain well out from under and not connected to steeper slopes.
  • Stay off and well out from under drifted slopes steeper than about 30 degrees.
Low
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
We are very sad to report that four skiers were killed in an avalanche in the backcountry in Mill Creek Canyon above Salt Lake City yesterday. Preliminary Accident Report
Weather and Snow
*Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on steep drifted slopes in the backcountry.*
After a very productive storm at the end of last week, there is 56 inches of total snow at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, with 73% of normal SWE. Strong westerly winds during the storm and over the weekend drifted tremendous quantities of the fresh snow into avalanche starting zones. West winds are blowing around 30 mph and gusting into the fifties at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station this morning and drifting will continue today at upper elevations. With widespread layers of preexisting very weak snow, the weekend's significant increase in load on the fragile snowpack has created dangerous avalanche conditions on drifted slopes in the backcountry.
It will be mostly sunny today with high temperatures at 8500' around 24°F, and continuing strong and gusty west winds. West winds will continue tonight, temperatures will drop, and snow showers are likely to develop. West winds will continue tomorrow, and snow showers are likely, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. A cooler and more unsettled weather pattern will develop later in the week, with another round of heavy snow possible Thursday night and Friday.
*Here is some crazy video from a very close call in the Uinta Mountains over the weekend....
Recent Avalanches
Saturday, backcountry skiers remote triggered a 2' deep and 200' wide avalanche on a fairly low angled slope on the shoulder of Swan Peak above Bear Lake.
With a bit of clearing, large natural avalanches, likely from during the height of Friday's storm, were observed on Chicken Hill in Bunch Grass, the east face of Wilderness Peak in the Gibson Lakes Area in Franklin Basin, a few miles north of the Idaho State Line and in Steep Hollow, just south of Doubletop Mountain or "Gunsight".
A fresher, very large natural avalanche, perhaps from overnight or early Sunday morning, was observed yesterday on Cornice Ridge.
A huge fresh natural avalanche was observed yesterday (2-7-2021) on Cornice Ridge.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Heavy snowfall and strong winds added weight to slopes that were already near the tipping point. Very weak sugary or faceted snow is widespread across the region, and avalanches are likely where a slab of more cohesive wind drifted 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.
These large faceted snow grains make up a nasty buried persistent weak layer that is widespread in the Logan Zone. It exists on slopes at all elevations across the zone. (Stump Hollow, 1-30-2021)
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Westerly winds over the weekend drifted fresh snow into lee slope avalanche starting zones, and built drifts and wind slabs on steep slopes at upper and mid elevations. Continuing strong west winds today will continue to create thick cohesive slabs and avalanches of wind drifted snow are likely, especially where drifts have built on top of a buried persistent weak layer.
  • Wind slabs are often rounded and chalky looking, and they can sound and feel hollow and drum-like when you walk on them.
  • Watch for and avoid stiffer drifted snow near ridge tops and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, cliff bands, and sub ridges.
  • Cornices are starting to grow with the recent strong winds. Stay well back from the edge as they can break much further back than you expect.
Additional Information
Do you have the essential avalanche rescue gear (transceiver, probe, and shovel) and do you know how to use them? Watch this video to see how the three pieces of equipment work together. HERE
Please keep practicing with the Beacon Training Park at the Franklin Basin Trailhead. Test yourself and your riding partners. It is free, fun, and easy to use.
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.
EMAIL ADVISORY. If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you subscribe HERE.
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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