Forecast: Logan Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Special Avalanche Bulletin

What: A Special Avalanche Advisory is issued for all mountain regions across Utah beginning Thursday, March 19, through Sunday, March 22, as avalanche danger is expected to rise in the coming days.

When: From 6 AM MST Thursday to 6 AM MST Monday.

Where: The mountains of Utah and southeastern Idaho.

Impacts: Record-breaking warm temperatures will rapidly destabilize the snowpack across the state, increasing the likelihood of widespread, spontaneous, destructive wet avalanches. Wet avalanches could occur on all aspects and at all elevations, including places that typically stay colder this time of year. Avoid travel on and below steep slopes, including avalanche runout zones and terrain traps.

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Weather and Snow

For the third night in a row, overnight low temperatures stayed well above freezing, even on the highest mountain tops. Radiation heat loss from clear skies likely created a thin, superficial crust on the snow surface that will quickly soften up in the hot sun this morning. The melt from skyrocketing temperatures will percolate into the winter snowpack, saturating and loosening the snow, and elevating avalanche danger. The intense heat could cause dangerous slab avalanches to fail naturally on a buried persistent weak layer, and natural wet slab and loose avalanches entraining wet snow are possible on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Snow has completely melted off most terrain below about 7000 feet in the Logan Zone, except for some north-facing slopes.

The UAC Card Canyon weather station at 8700 feet reports a toasty 49°F and 53 inches of total snow. It's too warm, 48°F at the Tony Grove Snotel at 8400', with 63 inches of total snow. At 9700 feet on Logan Peak, winds are blowing from the west-southwest 20 to 32 mph. At 0500, it's already 45°F on Paris Peak at 9500 feet! The winds are from the southwest, 18 to 26 mph. Mountain top temperatures will climb to around 60°F this afternoon, while temperatures in Cache Valley will be near 80°F. Tonight, mountain temperatures will remain well above freezing again, and tomorrow they will be even warmer than today. With dangerous wet avalanche conditions, avoiding travel in avalanche terrain is the obvious best choice. And with marginal backcountry riding conditions, this weekend's plans might include warmer-weather activities like gardening, golfing, or biking.

Temps at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel are hovering around 50°F this morning.

Recent Avalanches

No new avalanches were reported in the Logan Area, but on Tuesday, a large natural heat-induced slab avalanche was observed from a distance in the Uintas. Report is here.

Find observations from the Logan Zone and from across the state HERE.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

After another very warm night, today's summer-like heating will elevate wet avalanche conditions another notch, and dangerous avalanche conditions will likely develop. Loose wet avalanches entraining large piles of saturated snow are likely in very steep rocky terrain, and more dangerous wet slab avalanches are becoming increasingly possible.

Pay attention to terrain traps below you, such as gullies or cliffs, where even a small avalanche can have consequences.
If you're sinking into the snow above your ankles, or you're seeing active roller balls, relocate to shadier or lower-angle terrain.
Avoid being on or under steep slopes with saturated surface snow and poor snow structure.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The melt, as it percolates through the snow, is softening the hard layers above the January persistent weak layer, and large natural heat-induced avalanches are possible. As the slab layers soften, it could also become easier for a person to trigger a dangerous avalanche.

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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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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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.

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