Observation Donate / Join
Observation Donate / Join

Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Sunday morning, March 31, 2019
MODERATE: Human triggered avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer, 1 to 2 feet deep, are possible on some northerly facing upper elevation slopes. Rapid warming and Spring sun today will cause the new snow to become saturated and 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
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
We need your help. In an effort to increase awareness and prevent future fatalities we need to reach more people with our daily avalanche forecasts, expand the Know Before You Go program, and increase the number of on-snow avalanche courses. Please consider a donation to the UAC to help us raise $25,000 by April 8. Show your support of the UAC by making a donation at https://utahavalanchecenter.org/donate
Weather and Snow
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports about 10 inches of new snow Friday, with .9" SWE. and 2 more inches yesterday, bringing the storm totals up to about 18" of snow with 1.6" SWE. It's 23 ºF this morning and there is 88"of total snow with 104% of average SWE for the date. It's 18 ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and east winds are currently averaging around 20 mph. You might be able to find a little powder on upper elevation north facing terrain.
A weak weather disturbance over the four corners region will exit the area later today. High pressure aloft will settle over the Great Basin early in the week. The next storm system will impact Utah Tuesday through early Wednesday. It'll be sunny in the mountains today, with high temperatures at 8500' expected around 35ºF, with 6 to 8 mph east wind, veering from the northwest in the afternoon. Should be partly cloudy tonight, with low temperature around 22º F, and 6 to 8 mph northwest winds. It'll be sunny tomorrow, with 39 ºF high temperatures and 10 to 15 mph southwest wind.
Recent Avalanches
  • Near Bloomington Lake yesterday, a rider was caught and carried, but managed to ride out of a 20" deep and 60' wide soft slab avalanche.
  • It was active in the backcountry Friday, 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.
  • 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
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
New snow instabilities usually settle out fairly quickly in the Spring, but soft storm and wind slab avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer of surface hoar will be possible for people to trigger again today.
Surface hoar feathers on the snow surface on 3/12/19 in the Northern Bear River Range.
  • 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.
Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at REI, Backcountry.com, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay by clicking on these links, they donate a portion of your purchase to the UAC. If you sell on eBay, you can have your See our Affiliate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop
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.
< Previous forecast
Next forecast >

Learn More

Read About Our History

Take a Class

Find an Avalanche Class

How To

Read the forecast

Help the Community

Submit an Observation

Upcoming Events

View Our Calendar