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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Friday morning, March 6, 2020
Warm temperatures in the mountains today and strong March sun will create heightened wet avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger, especially in sheltered sunny terrain. People could trigger wet avalanches on very steep slopes, most likely in rocky areas with shallow, melt softened snow. Natural wet loose avalanches and cornice falls will become possible in some areas during the heat of the day.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and get an early start so you can head home before the snow gets too warm and soft.
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Special Announcements
The Utah Avalanche Center's Avy Awareness Auction is currently underway with tons of great gear, jewelry, artwork and experiences available. Visit the auction page HERE to help support the UAC's spring avalanche awareness and outreach efforts.
Weather and Snow
There is 80 inches of total snow at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel. It's already 35°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and south-southwest winds picked up early this morning and are now blowing around 30 mph.
Snow on the valley floor is keeping nighttime temperatures cool, but it won't last for long as temperatures will approach 60°F today.
Very warm temperatures in the mountains and strong March sun will create heightened wet avalanche conditions on very steep slopes, especially in sheltered sunny terrain. People could trigger wet avalanches when the snow surface is softened by melting. You'll want to avoid the large ridge top cornices, which will buckle and possibly fail in the heat.
Expect sunny conditions today, 8500' high temperatures will be close to 50°F, and south-southwest winds will blow 15 to 22 mph along the ridges. It'll be partly cloudy tonight, with a low temperature around 30°F, and south wind 14 to 21 mph, veering from the east in the evening. Expect increasing clouds and wind tomorrow, high temperatures will be around 46°F, and 23 to 26 mph south-southwest wind. High pressure will shift east of the area tonight allowing an increasingly strong and moist southwesterly flow spread over the area this weekend. A weak disturbance within this flow will cross the area Saturday night into Sunday. A stronger system is expected to move across the desert southwest early next week.
Recent Avalanches
There were a few small natural avalanches of wind drifted snow resulting from Sunday's minor storm, and a rider triggered a small avalanche and cornice fall on Cornice Ridge above Tony Grove Lake (East facing at 9400') on Monday.
Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Overnight temperatures stayed above freezing in many areas, even at the highest elevations. Very warm daytime temperatures and strong March sun will soften the surface snow and the February crusts, increasing the avalanche danger and creating heightened wet avalanche conditions. Avoid and stay out from under large ridge top cornices which will buckle and calve off during the heat of the day.
  • Roller balls, pinwheels, and naturally occurring sluffs indicate potential for wet avalanche activity.
  • Get an early start so you can go home when the snow gets too warm and soft.
Additional Information
A cross country skier was charged and trampled by a moose in upper Green Canyon last week, resulting in a very shaken skier and a broken ski pole. The big beasts are out and about, and they can be pretty grumpy this time of year. People and dogs need to yield the packed trail to the moose and give them lots of room.
General Announcements
Thanks to the generous support of our Utah ski resorts and Ski Utah, we have discount lift tickets available. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education! Get your tickets HERE.
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 tweet or Instagram.
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.
I will update this forecast before about 7:30 tomorrow morning.
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