Forecast: Logan Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Special Announcements

We are deeply saddened to report that one of the skiers involved in the Butler Basin accident on Saturday, February 21, has died from injuries sustained in the avalanche. Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family, friends, and everyone impacted by this tragic accident.

Weather and Snow

The powder is gone, and the surface snow in the mountains is highly variable. This past week's warm storm delivered rain up to about 8500', damp snow higher than that, and dense wind-packed graupel above about 9200'. Riding is generally supportable on all aspects and most enjoyable out of the wind zone, where you can find areas of softer, dense surface snow. The wind ravaged many upper elevation slopes, leaving behind patches of sculpted sastrugi.

The rain melted off all the snow on many slopes at lower elevations (below about 7000 feet), with only northerly-facing slopes holding very saturated and now refrozen snow. Poor snowpack structure persists on many slopes, now capped by crusts of varying thickness and density. Our biggest concern is riders triggering a slab of wind-drifted snow sitting atop the weak, sugary faceted snow that developed during our January dry spell.

With complex and heightened avalanche conditions across the Bear River Mountains, your safest choice is still to stay off and away from the steep hills, video below

The UAC Card Canyon weather station at 8700 feet reports 27°F with 55 inches of total snow. The Tony Grove Snotel, located at 8400 feet, reports 30°F, and there's 70 inches of total snow. At 9700 feet on Logan Peak, the winds are blowing from the west at 25 to 35 mph. It's 24°F on Paris Peak at 9500 feet, and the wind, from the west-southwest, is blowing 21 to 33 mph. It will be partly sunny today, with a high temperature around 38°F at 8500 feet and winds blowing from the west at 10 to 15 mph, with stronger gusts at ridgelines. There is a slight chance of snow in the late afternoon with little accumulation expected. Tomorrow is a transition day ahead of an incoming storm, which will likely deliver just a few inches of snow Sunday night through Monday.

Recent Avalanches

In the Wasatch Mountains, avalanches in the past 10 days have killed four people. We've released the final report on the tragic February 19 Ant Knolls Avalanche. All recent avalanche reports are listed HERE.

An observer reported a freshly triggered avalanche yesterday near the Naomi Trail on an east-facing slope around 8900'. This slab of wind-drifted snow is exactly the type of avalanche you could trigger today.

pc: K Follett

For all observations and avalanche activity in the Logan Zone, go HERE. Locally, we could see evidence of several natural avalanches that occurred on Wednesday in the Wellsville and Bear River Ranges.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Avalanche conditions are elevated in the backcountry, as preexisting layers of very weak snow were overloaded by recent heavy snowfall and drifting. A thick rain crust caps a poor snowpack structure, and it's so thick and hard that it will now be difficult for a person to trigger an avalanche, but a fragile, sugary, persistent weak layer is buried 1 to 3 feet deep, and the avalanches it can produce are large, destructive, and deadly.

Human-triggered avalanches failing on the widespread, persistent weak layer are possible today and could be large and destructive.
Large, dangerous, and deadly avalanches can be triggered remotely (from a distance or below).
Audible collapsing or whumpfs and shooting cracks indicate unstable snow, but may not always be present.

This video shows an extended column test from Tuesday in the Northern Bear River Range.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

Hard wind slab avalanches are possible. Snowmobiles may be a better trigger than a skier's weight, but nevertheless, watch for and avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.

Hard slabs of wind-drifted snow may be rounded and smooth-looking, often sound hollow like a drum, and can be found in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, rock outcroppings, gully walls, and mid-slope rollovers.
Avoid and stay out from under the large, freshly formed cornices on the ridge lines. These could break further back than expected and may trigger large avalanches on steep slopes below.
Hard wind slabs can be tricky; sometimes, allowing a person to get well out on them before suddenly releasing.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

With warming temperatures and a higher sun angle, snow on sunny slopes may become saturated and unstable in the heat of the day. If the snow gets sloppy, move to a cooler aspect and/or elevation. Rollerballs and pinwheels are signs of unstable snow.

Additional Information

Travel with a partner, and cross or ride slopes steeper than 30 degrees one at a time while the rest of your group watches from a safe spot.
Ensure that everyone in the group has avalanche rescue equipment (a transceiver, probe, and shovel) and knows how to use it.

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Join the UAC for the first "Stay and Play Avalanche Course" at Bear River Lodge in the Uintas, March 19th-22nd. This course is designed for snowmobilers by snowmobilers, where you will learn avalanche rescue, riding skills, and how to survive in the backcountry. Come enjoy all the luxury offerings at Bear River Lodge and improve your skills along the way.

For all questions on forecasts, education, Know Before You Go, events, online purchases, or fundraising, call 801-365-5522.

Did you know the UAC hosts a podcast? Episode 2 of Season IX is just out - AI, Machine Learning, and the Value of Expert Intuition at the Utah Avalanche Center.

Are you interested in learning more about avalanches? Visit our education page for details on all our classes.

For more information, visit the UAC weather page here: UAC Weather Page For Logan-specific weather, go here: Logan Mountain Weather

-Remember, the information you provide could save lives, especially if you see or trigger an avalanche. To report an avalanche or submit an observation from the backcountry, go HERE

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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.

General Announcements

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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.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures