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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Saturday morning, March 30, 2019
MODERATE: Human triggered avalanches of wind drifted new snow, 1 to 2 feet deep, are possible on many upper and mid elevation slopes. Rapid warming and Spring sun today will cause the new snow to become saturated, which will create heightened wet avalanche conditions. Natural and triggered wet loose avalanches entraining cement-like piles of saturated new snow will become increasingly possible as temperatures rise. 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 10 inches of new snow yesterday, with .9" SWE in the last 24 hours, bringing the storm totals up to about 16" of snow with 1.5" SWE. It's 23 ºF this morning and there is 90"of total snow with 104% of average SWE for the date. It's 16 ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and east-southeast winds are currently averaging around 20 mph. Yesterday's powder will quickly be affected by warm temperatures, especially in sunny terrain...
A weak weather disturbance will develop over southeast Utah tonight, then moves slowly southeast out of the state Sunday. High pressure aloft will settle over the Great Basin early in the week, followed by a new weather disturbance midweek. It'll be partly sunny in the mountains today, with high temperatures at 8500' expected around 34 ºF, with 7 to 15 mph east-southeast wind. Should be partly cloudy tonight, with low temperature around 29º F, and 8 mph northwest winds. It'll be sunny tomorrow, with 38 ºF high temperatures and 5 to 10 mph west wind.
Recent Avalanches
  • It was active in the backcountry yesterday, with riders triggering shallow soft slab avalanches in Providence Canyon, and skiers and snowboarders triggering wet loose avalanches at lower elevations in Cherry Creek, in the backcountry adjacent the Cherry Peak Resort.
  • Backcountry skiers easily triggered fresh wind slab avalanches at mid elevations in the Ogden Area yesterday afternoon. See Report HERE.
  • A natural wet slab avalanche that snapped a few trees was observed Tuesday 3/26/19 across the Crimson trail in lower Logan Canyon.
  • A skier was caught, carried, and mostly buried while skinning up a drifted slope near Perry Reservoir on Monday, 3/25/19. Report is HERE
Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
New snow instabilities usually settle out fairly quickly in the Spring, but soft storm and wind slab avalanches involving fresh snow will be possible for people to trigger today.
Cracking like this from yesterday at the North Ogden Divide is a sure sign of instability.
  • 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.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Rapid warming and powerful Spring sun will cause the fresh snow to become saturated and prone to avalanching. Avoid being on or under steep slopes with saturated snow, and stay out of runout gullies in the heat of the day.
Additional Information
I will update this forecast Monday morning.
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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