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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024
Heightened avalanche conditions exist in drifted mid and upper-elevation terrain. The danger is MODERATE, and people could trigger soft slab avalanches of storm snow up to around a foot thick on slopes steeper than 30°. Solar heating during the day will elevate the danger, making natural and human-triggered wet avalanches entraining heavy piles of melt-saturated new snow increasingly possible.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and travel with increased situational awareness in the backcountry. The best riding conditions are most likely to be found in low-angled terrain.
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Weather and Snow
Several inches of new snow accumulated at upper elevations yesterday, and we expect to find nice shallow powder riding conditions on many slopes this morning. The nice powder will not survive for long in sunny terrain, though, as solar heating will quickly warm up the fresh snow, making it soggy and sticky.
Today's best riding conditions will be in shady upper-elevation terrain and lower-angled slopes where you won't feel the underlying spongy melt-freeze crust from last week's warm spell as much.
The Tony Grove Lake Snotel at 8400' reports 7 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. It's 21° F and there is 101 inches of total snow containing 119% of normal snow water equivalent. On Logan Peak, winds are blowing from the west around 17 mph, with gusts around 30 mph, and it's 13° F at 9700' in elevation.
At our new Paris Peak weather station at 9500', it's also 13°F, and the wind is blowing from the west at 13 mph, with gusts near 30 mph. It's 15° F at the new Card Canyon weather station at 8800', now with 88 inches of total snow on the ground.
It'll be mostly sunny today with high temperatures at 8500' around 34° F. The wind will blow from the west-southwest 13 to 21 mph.
Tonight, temperatures will drop to around 24° F and winds blowing from the south-southwest will increase a bit to 20 to 25 mph. Snow showers are possible after midnight, with little accumulation expected.
Tomorrow will be stormy, with high temperatures near 35° F, winds blowing from the southwest 25 to 30 mph, and periods of heavy snow, with 8 to 12 inches of accumulation possible on upper elevation slopes.
There will be a bit of a break on Friday, with mostly cloudy conditions, but more snow is expected over the weekend.
Recent Avalanches
Sunday, riders unintentionally triggered a handful of small soft wind slabs running on the storm interface in the Tony Grove Area in generally north-facing terrain at upper elevations. The largest was reported to be about 6" deep and 70' wide, occurring at around 8800' in elevation. See report.
Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
People could probably trigger shallow soft slabs of drifted storm snow, especially in easterly-facing upper-elevation terrain on slopes steeper than 30°. Avalanches could fail on the interface on top of last week's melt-freeze crust or a weak layer within the newer snow.
  • In drifted terrain, watch for cracking and other obvious signs of instability, like recent avalanches on similar slopes.
  • In steep sheltered terrain, you could trigger fast-moving sluffs of new snow.
  • Although generally manageable, shallow soft wind slab or loose avalanches in steep terrain could dangerously carry you into trees or other terrain traps below.
*** Hot tip: You will find better riding conditions in lower-angled terrain where the shallow new snow keeps you off the old crusty or spongy surface.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Solar heating today will increase the possibility of natural wet loose avalanches in steep, sunny terrain. As temperatures warm up, people also could trigger wet avalanches, entraining piles of heavy, melt-saturated new snow.
  • Move off and out from under steep slopes when the fresh snow is warmed and it gets sticky or saturated.
  • Pay attention to and avoid being on steep slopes with potential terrain traps below, like trees, gullies, sinks, or cliff bands.
Additional Information
Sunday, riders triggered a handful of small soft wind slab avalanches and sluffs of new snow that ran fast and picked up decent piles of snow. Avalanches like these could be a problem in steep terrain if they carry you into trees or other terrain traps like gullys, sinks, or rock outcroppings.
General Announcements
-National Forest Winter Recreation Travel Maps show where it's open to ride: UWCNF Logan, Ogden LRD Tony Grove, Franklin Basin CTNF Montpelier
-Listen to your very own Logan Zone avalanche forecasters on the UAC Podcast HERE.
-Read Toby's blog about wind, drifting, and avalanches HERE.
-Sign up for forecast region-specific text message alerts. You will receive messages about changing avalanche conditions, watches, and warnings...HERE.
-For all questions on forecasts, education, Know Before You Go, events, online purchases, or fundraising, call 801-365-5522.
-To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry, go HERE.
-Come practice companion rescue at the Franklin Basin TH Beacon Training Park. It's free and open to everyone. For easy user instructions, go HERE.
-We will update this forecast tomorrow by 7:30 AM.
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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