BOTTOM LINE
Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)
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Danger Rose Tutorial
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The danger on most steep slopes in the area remains MODERATE (2), and you might trigger wind slab or shallow storm snow avalanches on many steep slopes in the region... There are also areas with a CONSIDERABLE (3) danger on drifted upper and mid-elevation slopes. Dangerous triggered deep slab avalanches 2 to 4 feet deep are possible today on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees, especially on those with shallow and weak previous snow cover with recent deposits of wind-drifted snow.
Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, follow proper backcountry travel protocols, and use cautious route-finding and conservative tactics. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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We found good shallow powder conditions yesterday on sheltered slopes in the Central Bear River Range, with no obvious signs of instability...The Tony Grove Snotel reports about 11 inches of new snow and a storm total of 1.1 inches of water equivalent. There's now 46 inches of total snow on the ground, and 46% of normal water for the date. Its 15 degrees this morning at the Campbell Scientific weather station on Logan Peak at 9700', and there's currently a 15 to 20 mph wind from the southeast.
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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No avalanches were reported locally yesterday, but it was fairly active in the rest of the Northern Utah Mountain mountains, with numerous triggered and a few natural avalanches reported....Although the light was poor yesterday afternoon and I was viewing from a distance, I thought I could see evidence of some natural activity in the Wellsville Range..
2010 is so-far quite an active year for avalanches in the backcountry around Logan...Here's an updated local backcountry avalanche list:
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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Yesterday's new snow bounded fairly well to the beat up old snow surface, where we were in the Tony Grove Lake Area, but there are certainly areas in the forecast zone where this was not the case. We noted widespread surface hoar and near surface facets in sheltered lower elevation terrain, and weak snow developing above a rime-crust in some areas before the storm...As southwest winds increase and continue today, drifting the soft new snow into lee slope deposition areas, triggered wind slab or shallow persistent slab avalanches will probably become more likely on steep slopes. |
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THREAT #2 |
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| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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Very weak large grained faceted snow or depth hoar plagues the basal layers of the snowpack in many areas. On steep slopes which have already avalanched and on other slopes with generally shallow snow-cover there's a higher danger of triggering a dangerous hard slab avalanche. The new snow, especially when drifted onto one of these slopes may well be enough added weight to bring a slope close to the balance point...Here is where the dragon awaits...
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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We could pick up a couple inches with the next wave of storminess this morning and again with the next tonight..
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
I will be issuing morning avalanche advisories for the Logan area on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Consider purchasing some Beaver Mountain lift tickets here from our good friends at Backcountry.com in partnership with Ski Utah. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center.
If you want to get this avalanche advisory e-mailed to you daily click HERE.
Send us your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call me at 435-757-7578 or the SLC office at 800-662-4140, or email to uac@utahavalanchecenter.org
Donate to your favorite non-profit – The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.
The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
I will update this forecast Friday morning. Thanks for checking in.... |
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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. |
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This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:
The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list. |
