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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Friday morning, March 19, 2021
Very warm temperatures have created elevated avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger of wet avalanches in the backcountry. People could trigger loose wet avalanches entraining deep piles of saturated snow on steep slopes, and dangerous wet slab avalanches are possible in very steep terrain with poor snow structure.
EVALUATE SNOW AND TERRAIN CAREFULLY
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
It's far too warm this morning, 36°F at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, and there is 65 inches of total snow with 79% of normal SWE. It's 32°F and south winds are blowing 25 to 30 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. We're expecting mostly sunny skies again today, high temperatures at 9000' around 46°F, and breezy conditions, with increasing southwest winds this evening. Looks likely we'll see snow in the Logan Zone this weekend, starting tonight and becoming heavy at times on Saturday, with 8 to 14 inches of accumulation possible on upper elevation slopes by Saturday evening. I expect heavy snow and drifting with the storm will cause rising danger and elevated avalanche conditions in the backcountry.
The warm snow did not refreeze last night, with temperatures lingering in the mid 30s at many stations. Very warm mountain temperatures today will create elevated avalanche conditions in the backcountry and people could trigger wet avalanches on steep slopes with saturated snow.
Spring is here in Cache Valley, but it's still transition season in the mountains and there is plenty of dry, layered snow. (Valley perspective, Wellsiville Mountains reflected in the Little Bear River)
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. Wet slab avalanches are possible today on steep slopes with saturated snow and poor snow structure.
Paige found plenty of weak sugary or faceted snow in the Beaver Mountain Backcountry last weekend.
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.
Recent Avalanches
  • Four people were caught, carried over a cliff, and injured in a small wind slab avalanche on the east ridge of the Pfeifferhorn on Sunday in the Wasatch Mountains above Salt Lake City . details are HERE
  • -In the Logan Zone it's been over two weeks since any avalanches failing on our nasty deeply buried persistent weak layer occurred. See Twitter Post
  • -A few recent (or previously unreported) natural avalanches were observed on 3-17-21 in the Bloomington Canyon Area, west of Bear Lake. We are unsure about the timing of these as evidence of many other natural avalanches in the zone from our widespread February cycle is still quite apparent across the Logan Zone...
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Yesterday's heat was enough to cause the wet snow to become loose and unsupportable on sunny slopes with shallow snow cover. Temperatures stayed well above freezing at most local mountain weather stations overnight and the slushy snow did not refreeze solidly. Very warm daytime temperatures again today will soften the snow further and cause elevated danger of loose wet and perhaps wet slab avalanches on very steep slopes in the heat of the day. Watch for trees or other terrain traps below you if you venture onto steep slopes.
It's a good idea to get into the springtime habit of early departures, so you can be heading down out of avalanche terrain before the snow gets too soft. However, today the surface snow will soften and become unsupportable earlier than it did yesterday. If you start sinking deeply into wet snow, or if the snow you are traveling on becomes unsupportable due to the heat, it's time to leave.
Avoid travel on and under steep slopes with melt-softened saturated snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Although suspect persistent weak layers are dormant, the sugary faceted snow near the ground may continue to be devious on some slopes. Dangerous avalanches, 2 to 3 feet deep may still be possible for people to trigger on very steep isolated slopes, in rocky terrain, and on outlying drifted slopes with generally thin snow cover. Very warm conditions today may reawaken the dragon and create some potential for wet slab avalanches in steep terrain.
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
Preston rider Allen Foss was killed in an avalanche on February 20 near Sherman Peak. Please consider supporting the Foss family during this difficult time. 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 Instagram, or @UAClogan on Twitter.
We 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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