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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Wednesday morning, February 16, 2022
Today, the avalanche danger is LOW in the backcountry. Avalanches are unlikely, and the snow is stable on most slopes with very few exceptions.
Use normal caution
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
  • The Utah Avalanche Center will be holding a BC 101 class in Logan on Feb 24-25. This class is great for those new to the backcountry or wanting to refresh their skills. Click here for details and registration.
  • Thanks to the generous support of our local resorts and Ski Utah, discount lift tickets are now available. Support the UAC while you ski at the resorts this season. Tickets are available HERE.
Weather and Snow
Snow is falling in the Bear River Range this morning, and as of 0500 hrs an inch has accumulated. The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 19°F, and there was an inch of new snow from yesterday evening, so 2" in the last 24 hrs! There is 64 inches of total snow at the site containing 97% of normal SWE for the date. Winds out of the northwest are blowing around 20 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station.
A couple inches isn't enough new snow to change avalanche conditions much. The snow is generally stable across the Logan Zone, and it's been over a month since we've seen any significant avalanche activity. As you'd expect after a month of dry weather, variable snow surface conditions are found in most places, ranging from soft and shallow recrystallized "powder" to thin, breakable, and in some places, bulletproof crusts. Although stable, the existing snow is very weak in many areas, and today's thin layer of fresh snow will only cap and preserve widespread layers of loose and sugary faceted snow.
  • It's snowing in the mountains this morning, with a good chance for 1 to 3 inches of accumulation on upper elevation slopes today. Expect 8500' temperatures to remain steady at around 20°F, and15 mph winds blowing from the northwest with 30 mph gusts.
  • Tonight, temperatures will drop to around 7°F under clearing skies. North winds will blow 16 to 18 mph, driving the wind chill values down to around -7°F.
  • It will be nice and sunny in the mountains tomorrow, with high temperatures around 25°F and 20 mph north-northwest winds, veering from the west in the afternoon.
  • Fair weather and warming is expected as we head into the weekend, with warm temperatures and plenty of sun expected Friday and Saturday.
  • Potential appears to be increasing for a more impactful storm early next week, and snow will likely begin to fall in the mountains around Logan again on Sunday.
Richie Schumacher observed some neat clouds stacking up on the Wellsville Crest on 2-15-2022. A welcome change from weeks of sunny weather.
Recent Avalanches
Friday in steep terrain in the Bear River Range a party of riders triggered a few loose avalanches or sluffs involving 10" to 12" of very loose sugary faceted surface snow. These were manageable but indicate potential for larger avalanches if we do ever get some significant snow accumulations.
On a sustained slope, this kind of avalanche could be a problem if you get swept into trees or other terrain traps below like gullies or benches.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Remember, LOW avalanche danger doesn't mean NO avalanche danger. Watch for and avoid stiff wind drifted snow on steep upper elevation slopes, and loose recrystallized snow sluffing on very steep and sustained shady slopes.
  • Although unlikely, people might trigger shallow slab avalanches of drifted snow on steep slopes in wind exposed upper elevation terrain. If any snow accumulates, drifting may form soft wind slabs capping weak faceted snow. Avoid stiffer drifted snow at upper elevations on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, and cliff bands.
  • Loose avalanches (or sluffs) of recrystallized or faceted surface snow are possible on very steep and sustained slopes. Manage these by staying out of constricting terrain, like drainage gullies, and moving out of the fall line so you don't get caught by your own sluff. Avoid being caught and pulled into terrain traps below you like trees, gullies, or benches.
Additional Information
  • Now is a great time to practice your avalanche rescue skills. Thanks to the generous support of Northstar, the Franklin Basin Beacon Training Park is up and running. The park is located directly west of the parking lot and is open for anyone to use. All you need is your beacon and probe. Please do not dig up the transmitters.
  • Always follow safe backcountry travel protocols. Go one person at a time in avalanche terrain, while the rest of your party watches from a safe area. (practice anytime while traveling on or under backcountry slopes steeper than 30°)
  • Check your avalanche rescue equipment, change your batteries, and practice often with your backcountry partners.
    Check slope angles, and to avoid avalanche terrain stay off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30° and adjacent slopes. Video Here
General Announcements
Special thank you to Polaris and Northstar...Video Here
Who's up for some free avalanche training? Get a refresher, become better prepared for an upcoming avalanche class, or just boost your skills. Go to https://learn.kbyg.org/ and scroll down to Step 2 for a series of interactive online avalanche courses produced by the UAC.
  • Check out all the upcoming education classes and clinics HERE.
  • Please submit your observations from the backcountry HERE.
This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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