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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Saturday morning, March 23, 2019
MODERATE: Yesterday's moist snow didn't stick well to the old snow surface, and heightened avalanche conditions exist at all elevations. Shallow soft slab and long-running loose avalanches involving fresh storm snow are possible in many areas. Rain on the snow at lower elevations saturated the snow, warm temperatures are expected today, and wet loose avalanches are possible. It is possible for people to trigger 1 to 2 foot deep slab avalanches of wind drifted snow on upper and mid elevation slopes, especially those facing north and east.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports about 8 inches of moist new snow, with .7" SWE in the last 24 hours. It's 30ºF this morning and there is 87" of total snow with 103% of average SWE for the date. It's 24ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and west winds are currently averaging around 15 mph. Heightened avalanche conditions exist at all elevations in the backcountry today.
High pressure will build across the region today. The next storm system will bring widespread precipitation later tonight into Sunday. Warmer weather is in store for the first part of next week. Expect rain showers in Cache Valley and snow showers in the mountains this morning. High temperatures at 8500' expected be around 35ºF, with 5 to 10 mph west wind. Snow is likely tonight, with little accumulation. Expect low temperatures around 23º F, and 5 to 7 mph west winds becoming light and variable after midnight. Snow is likely tomorrow morning, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. High temperatures are expected to be around 33ºF, with 8 to 13 mph west wind.
Recent Avalanches
Observers report easily triggering several shallow soft slab and loose avalanches involving fresh storm snow at upper elevations in the Central Bear River Range yesterday.
I was able to push start small wet loose avalanches entraining a few inches of heavy wet snow at mid and lower elevations on the Beaver Mt Backside.
Backcountry skiers on Cutler Ridge in the Ogden Area Backcountry triggered a few sensitive freshly formed wind slabs on test slopes, a few remotely.
Avalanche Problem #1
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Loose sluffs and shallow soft slabs consisting of new snow are possible on many steep mountain slopes today. Yesterday's moist new snow did not bond well with the old in some areas, and there were numerous small avalanches entraining storm snow. Special caution is needed on upper elevation slopes with significant accumulations, especially on north facing slopes where the old snow was plagued by weak sugary surface snow or surface hoar.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The rain-snow line is loitering at around 7000', with heavy wet snow above that. Yesterday, wet loose avalanches or sluffs involving just a few inches of new snow entrained all of it in their paths, and made some pretty impressive debris piles even on small test slopes. Rain saturated the snow and resulting melt is softening existing crusts. Expect increasing danger of wet avalanches with warmer temperatures today and sunny periods possible. As long as temperatures remain above freezing and the snow is soft and slushy, natural and human triggered wet avalanches are possible.
  • Avoid being on or under steep low elevation slopes with soft saturated snow, and stay out of possible runout gullies.
Avalanche Problem #3
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Watch for and avoid wind drifted snow on steep upper elevation slopes. You could trigger wind slab avalanches, 1 to 2 feet deep, and these could travel fast and far in places on a slick sun-crust from last week's warm up. Use caution in upper elevation areas where drifts form, like on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, tree stringers, and cliff bands.
Stay off and out from under large ridge top cornices, which are likely to break further back than expected and could trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
Additional Information
I will update this forecast Monday morning.
Enjoy spring skiing at Snowbasin Resort. The UAC has discount Snowbasin tickets available. HERE
General Announcements
The new weather station at the WSU Bloomington Canyon Yurt is up and running. Data available HERE
Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. You should check out and use the new Avalanche Beacon Training Park we set up at the Franklin Basin trailhead. Special thanks to Northstars Ultimate Outdoors, USU Outdoor Program, and Beaver Mountain Ski Patrol for helping us to make this possible.
The Beaver Mountain Backside is the backcountry, and it is avalanche terrain. Same goes for the steep rocky terrain adjacent to Cherry Peak Resort. If you leave a ski area boundary, you and your partners should carry and practice with avalanche rescue equipment and follow safe backcountry travel protocols.
Check out the improved weather links, road conditions, and weather links for each forecast region on the new UAC IOS App. Do you use the NOAA point forecast? If so, now you can bookmark your favorite weather locations in "My Weather" in the App. HERE
Are you new to the backcountry or looking to refresh your skills? The UAC has released a free 5-part avalanche skills eLearning series. HERE
If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you subscribe HERE.
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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 call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram.
This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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