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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Sunday morning, January 22, 2023
The avalanche danger is LOW this morning, and avalanches are generally unlikely in the backcountry. Drifting of today's few inches of new snow by strengthening northerly winds, veering from the east in the afternoon, will probably elevate the danger to MODERATE in exposed upper elevation terrain. People could trigger small avalanches of wind drifted snow.
Keep an eye on your partners, travel one at a time in avalanche terrain, and have a plan if an avalanche were to happen.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
In general, powder conditions are excellent across the zone with great coverage. South facing slopes are a little crusty after yesterday's sun.
This morning the Tony Grove Snotel reports 10° F and 83"of total snow. The CSI Logan Peak weather station is showing winds blowing from the west about 20 mph.
Today will be cold and snowy, with 1 to 3 inches forecast to fall at upper elevations. Temperatures at 8500' will be about 14° F, with 10 mph winds blowing from the north-northwest and wind chill values around -6° F. Winds are expected to switch and blow from the east tonight, and they could be fairly strong especially near canyon mouths, in the Wellsville Range, and canyons along the western slopes of the Northern Bear River Range.
Tomorrow will be mostly sunny, with high temperatures around 20° F and moderate winds blowing from the northeast. The snow on the ground in the backcountry should stay pretty good with cold and cloudy weather expected to last through the week, and small amounts of light snow expected Wednesday and Friday.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanche activity was reported in the Logan Zone recently.
Find a list of all observations & avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
It's a good idea to avoid areas of freshly wind-drifted snow on steep slopes. New drifts may form today in exposed terrain, especially in areas where a few inches of new snow accumulates. Some of these may form on weak surface snow or forming surface hoar and be pretty sensitive to human triggering. Although wind slab instability usually heals fairly quickly, people still might be able to trigger slab avalanches in drifts formed last week on very steep slopes.
  • Avoid corniced slopes and stiffer drifts on steep slopes near ridges and in and around terrain features like under cliff bands, sub-ridges, mid-slope break-overs, and gully walls..
Even a small wind slab avalanche can have large consequences.
Avalanche Problem #2
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
In general in the Logan zone, the snowpack is deep and stable. We have dropped the persistent weak layer problem for now as the snowpack has gotten too deep in most places for people to trigger this type of avalanche. There are still areas with poor snow structure though, primarily where the snow is shallower, like in the Wildernesses and some outlying areas.
  • Today, you'll find nice powder conditions at all elevations and on most slopes except south facing slopes which caught a bit of sun yesterday.
  • Remember that Low danger does not mean No danger. If you are in avalanche terrain, avalanches are always possible.
  • Always travel with a partner, only expose one person at a time in steep terrain, and have a plan for what to do in case an avalanche occurs.
  • If you are in an area with shallower snow, it would be a good idea to dig down into the snow - if you can get to the facets fairly quickly, I'd avoid steep slopes in that area.
General Announcements
  • Please submit your observations from the backcountry HERE.
  • For a list of avalanche classes from the Utah Avalanche Center go HERE
  • For information on where you can ride your sled or snowbike, check out this map of the winter travel plan for the Logan and Ogden Ranger Districts HERE, and a close up of the Tony Grove and Franklin Basin Areas HERE.
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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