LOGAN — An avalanche closed Logan Canyon, US-89 for the second time Friday afternoon. The slide near the Dugway, west of the Temple Fork turnoff, was reported at 2:45 p.m.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Cade Brenchley said the slide did not involve any vehicles. However, snow and mud continued to spill onto the roadway because of the warm weather.
Troopers allowed limited travel between the mouth of Logan Canyon and the Dugway. The canyon was also open from Beaver Mountain to Garden City, to allow motorists to leave the ski resort.
The highway was cleared to be reopened at 5 p.m. after crews removed the snow and debris. Forecasters also determined that the danger of avalanches and slides had decreased.
Friday afternoon’s closure came just 90 minutes after crews finished clearing drifting snow near the summit. The section of canyon between the turnoff to Beaver Mountain and Garden City was closed for seven hours earlier in the day.
The Utah Avalanche Center has also issued an avalanche warning for the back-country. They said conditions are very dangerous at all elevations. Large, long running natural and human triggered avalanches are likely through the weekend.
The concrete barriers would not have helped that. Especially coming from or to Logan.