Finally, we got a real storm with a least 2 feet of powder observed on favored upper elevation slopes. The copious snow at lower elevations was wet and heavy, and we got stuck pretty quickly in knee-deep mashed potato-like snow in the unplowed lot at the Franklin Basin TH. We found great, in-your-face deep powder riding in the Central Bear River Range once we made it up high. The considerable danger level (3 on a scale of 5) indicates that avalanche conditions are dangerous, and careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making are crucial for safe backcountry travel. Today's avalanche problems on slopes steeper than 30 degrees in the Logan Zone include soft and stiffer wind slab avalanches, as well as lingering potential in outlying terrain for large and destructive hard slab avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer near the ground.
The Tony Grove Snotel reported about 21 inches of somewhat heavy new snow from the storm and 66 inches of total snow at 8400 feet as of 4:00 yesterday afternoon. At the UAC Card Canyon weather station at 8700 feet, it's 22°F, with around 16 inches of new snow and 47 inches of total snow. Currently at 9700 feet on Logan Peak, it's 20°F, the wind is blowing 26 mph from the west-southwest, gusting to 40 mph early this morning. The Paris Pk wind sensor is still encased by rime, and it's 19°F.
It will be partly sunny in the mountains today, with a high temperature at 8500 feet near 28°F. Winds from the west-southwest will blow 15 to 20 mph, with higher gusts. Expect increasing clouds tonight, with a low temperature of around 22°F and a good chance for periods of heavy snowfall in the early morning hours, with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible. Periods of heavy snowfall are expected tomorrow, with moderately strong winds from the west-southwest and high temperatures around 26°F. Around a foot (8 to 12 inches) of accumulation is possible at upper elevations. Periods of heavy snowfall will continue on Wednesday night, with another 5 to 9 inches possible.
We observed several natural avalanches of storm snow at upper elevations. Mostly loose dry, but a few broader storm slabs as well at around 9000 feet in elevation, including the east face of Mt Magog and on the Morning Glory Face (east facing). One small slide looks to have stepped down into basal facets in a pocket of Miller Bowl near Tony Grove Lake. For all observations and avalanche activity in the Logan Zone, go HERE.
