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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Sunday morning, March 1, 2020
Rapid accumulation of new snow is creating heightened avalanche conditions in the Logan Zone, and continuing snowfall and drifting will cause rising danger today. The avalanche danger is MODERATE, and people could trigger shallow soft slab and loose avalanches of new snow on steep slopes at all elevations. Drifting snow and a northerly wind shift today will cause an elevated danger of human triggered avalanches of wind drifted snow on upper elevation slopes.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Special Announcements
The UAC's Avy Awareness Auction is currently underway with tons of great gear, jewelry, artwork and experiences available. Visit the auction page HERE to help support the UAC's spring avalanche awareness and outreach efforts.
Weather and Snow
It's 24°F this morning at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, and 4 inches of snow fell early this morning with 0.4" Snow Water Equivalent. There is 87 inches of total snow, containing 115% of normal SWE. It's 15°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and southwest winds were consistently blowing around 25 mph overnight, but have diminished a bit this morning to around 15 mph. Be heads up for the wind to shift from the north-northeast later this morning.
The new snow is falling on a variety of crusts and a generally warm snow surface. It will be a goggle day, with several more inches of accumulation possible. Expect a rising avalanche danger, with shallow soft slabs and loose avalanches of new snow becoming more likely and possible at all elevations as more snow accumulates during the day. Drifting from northerly winds will create heightened conditions on upper elevation slopes, with avalanches of stiffer wind drifted snow becoming increasingly possible.
Today's new snow will fall on a variety of crusts and warm surface snow, and it will create heightened avalanche conditions at all elevations in the Logan Zone, including in the Wellsville Range.
A storm system will move south across the region today. The National Weather Service has continued a Winter Weather Advisory for the zone through late tonight. It will snow today, with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation possible on upper elevation slopes. 8500' high temperatures will be around 26°F, and this morning's southwest winds will veer from the north-northeast and blow 15 to 18 mph. Snow showers may continue into the evening, and cloudy skies will gradually clear late tonight. Low temperatures are expected to be around 10°F, with 13 to 15 mph east-northeast winds, and wind chill values as low as -5°F. The sun will be out tomorrow and temperatures will climb to around 26°F, but 11 to 14 mph north-northeast wind will create wind chill values as low as -5°F. Winds will veer from the west during the day. Snow showers are possible on Tuesday, then high pressure will build back into the area for the middle part of the week.
Recent Avalanches
Although there was some small natural activity during Monday's windy storm, no other significant avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone recently.
Avalanche Problem #1
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Several inches of new snow fell fairly evenly in the mountains, with similar accumulations at low elevations in the valley and at upper elevations in the Bear River Range. People could trigger shallow soft slab or loose avalanches of storm snow on steep slopes at all elevations. More than expected snowfall could cause dangerous conditions to develop in some areas, and some natural avalanche activity may occur during periods of particularly heavy snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Expect the winds to veer from the north-northeast this morning and continue to drift snow in upper elevation terrain. Avalanches of wind drifted snow will become increasingly possible for people to trigger during the day as drifts get deeper and more widespread on upper elevation slopes.
  • Watch for and avoid drifts near ridge lines and in and around terrain features like cliff bands, scoops, gully walls, and sub-ridges.
  • Avoid ridge top cornices, which can break much further back than expected and could start avalanches on slopes below.
Additional Information
A cross country skier was charged by a moose in upper Green Canyon earlier this week, resulting in a very shaken skier and a broken ski pole. The big guys are out and about, and they can be grumpy this time of year. People and dogs need to yield the packed trail to the moose and give them lots of room.
General Announcements
Thanks to the generous support of our Utah ski resorts and Ski Utah, we have discount lift tickets available. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education! Get your tickets HERE.
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.
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.
I will update this forecast before about 7:30 tomorrow morning.
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