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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Paige Pagnucco
Issued by Paige Pagnucco on
Sunday morning, April 7, 2024
The avalanche danger is MODERATE today. Snowfall and strong winds have created heightened conditions in drifted upper and mid-elevation terrain where people might trigger wind slab and loose snow avalanches.

Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Weather and Snow
With yesterday's storm, there was more bark than bite. The mountains picked up about 3-8 inches in the past 24 hours (maybe a bit more in favored areas), a nice refresh to smooth out our previously rough surface. The winds stayed elevated so it's still possible to trigger an avalanche in wind-drifted terrain. These avalanches will likely be reserved for exposed upper and mid-elevation terrain and are likely pockety in nature. Continue to evaluate the snow and terrain carefully. Riding conditions, while not super deep, should be greatly improved and will remain that way for today into tomorrow while temperatures stay cool. You'll find the best conditions in upper-elevation, sheltered terrain on lower-angle slopes where you won't bump into the old surface crust.

The Tony Grove Lake Snotel at 8400' reports a chilly 18°F this morning, and there is 103 inches of total snow at the site containing 121% of normal snow water equivalent. At the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, winds are blowing from the north-northwest in the teens mph with gusts in the 20's mph and it is 12°F. At our new Paris Peak weather station at 9500', it's 11°F, and the wind is blowing from the west-northwest at 11 mph with gusts around 20 mph. It's 14°F at our new Card Canyon weather station at 8800', and there is 86 inches of total snow.

Expect wintery conditions today in the mountains with continued light snowfall mainly in the afternoon. Moderate winds blowing from the west will make it feel un-April-like with wind chills in the teens °F. We are expected to only get a few more inches at the most. Sunshine returns tomorrow and high pressure builds in for the work week ahead.
For more information, visit our mountain weather page HERE.
Recent Avalanches
No avalanches were reported yesterday.

Check out all local observations and avalanches HERE.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
While we did not get tons of new snow yesterday, we got enough that, coupled with sustained strong west-northwest winds, it'll remain possible today to trigger soft slab avalanches of drifted snow, in upper and mid-elevation terrain on slopes steeper than 30°.
  • Identify drifted snow or wind slabs on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub ridges, gully walls, mid-slope rollovers, scoops, and cliff bands.
  • Watch for cracking and other obvious signs of instability, like recent avalanches on similar slopes.
  • You might trigger loose snow avalanches on very steep slopes.
  • Practice safe travel protocols to avoid exposing more than one person to avalanche danger.
  • NOTE: If the sun pops out at all, wet avalanches may quickly become an issue on solar slopes. (It's April!)
Additional Information
Check out McKinley Talty's new blog post, "Do We Let Our Guard Down in the Spring?" about springtime mindsets and avalanche incidents... HERE.
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
-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 issue regular daily updates of our forecast through April 14.
-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.