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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Sunday morning, March 6, 2022
Areas with CONSIDERABLE danger exist on upper and mid elevation slopes facing the northern half of the compass. In some areas, significant accumulations of heavy new snow overloaded slopes plagued by layers of very weak faceted snow and created dangerous avalanche conditions. Heightened conditions and MODERATE danger exist on slopes steeper than 30° at all elevations, and small loose and soft slab avalanches of new snow are possible for people to trigger.
Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision making is essential today.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
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
The first significant snowstorm in the Logan Zone since early January will provide excellent powder conditions, with several inches of new snow and little wind. This is very good news, but today's new snow overloaded slopes with shallowly buried persistent weak layers of sugary faceted snow. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist today on some steep slopes with significant accumulations from overnight, with dangerous slab avalanches potentially failing on a buried persistent weak layer on slopes facing the northern half of the compass. Dangerous conditions will continue to develop with drifting and additional accumulations in the backcountry today and early next week.
The 8400' Tony Grove Snotel reports 19°F this morning, with 7 inches of new snow overnight. Looks like more snow accumulated in some areas, with the Klondike Meadows Snotel in Franklin Basin reporting 1.4" SWE! There is 66 inches of total snow at the site, with 85% of normal SWE for the date. Winds out of the northwest are increasing a bit and blowing about 15 mph at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station.
  • Expect a bit more snow in the mountains today, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. 8500' high temperatures will be around 20°F, dropping to around 15°F this afternoon, with 10-15 mph northwest winds.
  • Sunny skies are expected tomorrow, with temperatures around 22°F, and 10 to 15 mph east winds, veering from the northwest in the morning.
  • Winds from the southwest will increase Monday night ahead of the next storm, which will begin to impact the zone on Tuesday, with blustery southwest winds and 3 to 5 inches possible.
With widespread shallowly buried persistent weak layers plaguing terrain facing the northern half of the compass at all elevations, significant accumulations of spring snow will cause the avalanche danger to rise significantly in the backcountry.
Recent Avalanches
A skier triggered a good sized wet avalanche Friday on Mitton Peak in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.
Check out all the recent backcountry observations and avalanche reports from across Utah HERE
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
The fresh snow is creating a more cohesive slab on widespread preexisting layers of very weak faceted snow. It's hard to say, but in some areas the overload of heavy new snow could be enough to activate these layers. In some areas, on slopes facing the north half of the compass that picked up significant accumulation, people are likely to trigger soft slab avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer. Avalanches could be triggered remotely or from a distance.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Small soft slab and loose avalanches of storm snow are likely for people to trigger on upper and mid elevation slopes steeper than 30° today.
Loose dry avalanches (or sluffs) of fresh snow entraining recrystallized or faceted snow are possible in sheltered terrain facing the northern half of the compass on very steep slopes.
  • Manage loose avalanches 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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