It's 31°F this morning at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, and there is 68 inches of total snow containing 80% of normal SWE. It's 25°F and north winds are currently blowing around 10 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. We're expecting partly sunny skies today, with a good chance of some snow this afternoon, although not much accumulation is expected. High temperatures at 9000' will be around 35°F, and moderate easterly winds will blow along the ridges. Daytime temperatures will increase a bit each day, and we'll see fair spring weather conditions in the northern mountains through the end of the work week. Guidance is coming into better agreement regarding a storm system for this weekend, with a good chance for some significant snow in the Logan Zone, probably starting late Friday night and lasting through Saturday.
We are finding stable snow conditions and generally Low avalanche danger in the backcountry. Stability has improved significantly since February on slopes with deep deposits of drifted snow, even in areas where extensive natural deep slab avalanches occurred.
We found stable snow conditions and Low avalanche danger in Wood Camp Hollow (3-12-2021).
However, areas with poor snow structure and dry weak sugary or faceted snow can still be found where the snowpack is thin, (around 3' deep or less), on the north side of the compass, on windward and mid-elevation slopes, slopes with grass and bushes showing, and in rocky, shallow terrain. Although unlikely, there is still a possibility that a person could trigger a dangerous avalanche on a very steep isolated slope in the Logan Zone.
Paige found weak sugary snow, poor snow structure, and propagation in snow stability tests in shallower snow in the Beaver Mountain Backcountry (3-13-2021).
As daytime temperatures rise, softening the snow, the danger of wet avalanches will increase, so its a good idea to get in the habit of an early start and to plan on heading down before things get too sloppy.
