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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Monday morning, April 1, 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. Diurnal warming and potential greenhousing from increasing clouds today will cause snow on many slopes to become soft and saturated, and will again create heightened wet avalanche conditions. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Weather and Snow
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 28 ºF this morning and there is 85"of total snow with 102% of average SWE for the date. It's 20 ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and west winds are currently averaging around 20 mph.
High pressure aloft will move east across Utah tonight, followed by the next storm system for Tuesday night through early Wednesday. High pressure aloft will return for Thursday. A weak weather disturbance will move through Utah Friday, with a somewhat stronger storm for Saturday. We'll see increasing clouds in the mountains today, with high temperatures at 8500' expected around 38ºF, with 9 to 16 mph west wind. Snow showers are likely late tonight, with low temperature around 25 ºF, and 11 to 15 mph west-southwest winds. Snow is likely tomorrow, with 2 to 4 inches possible, high temperatures of 38 ºF and 11 to 20 mph south-southwest wind.
Recent Avalanches
  • There were a couple slab avalanches triggered by skiers in the Ogden Area Backcountry yesterday
  • There were a couple close calls on Saturday in the Logan Zone. We're still gathering details on this one, but a snow biker was caught, carried into a tree and partially buried in the Whites Canyon Area just north of the Idaho State Line in the Franklin Basin Area.
  • Sledders triggered a couple avalanches near Bloomington Lake, and a rider was caught and carried, but managed to ride out of a 20" deep and 60' wide soft slab avalanche.
Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
1' to 2' deep avalanches avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer of surface hoar or near surface facets will be possible for people to trigger again today on upper elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass.
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
Diurnal warming and potential greenhousing with increasing clouds today will cause the snow to become soft and saturated and prone to avalanching in some areas. 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 Wednesday 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.
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