UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Thursday, December 21, 2017

Heightened wind slab avalanche conditions exist, and you could trigger avalanches today in exposed upper elevation terrain.

  • Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully and avoid steep drifted slopes.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 2 inches of new snow from yesterday. It's 14°F and 28" total snow containing 82% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent). It's 6°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and north winds diminished overnight, currently blowing around 5 mph, and gusting to 13 mph. We expect the avalanche danger in the backcountry to rise just in time for the holidays as new snow stacks up on weak preexisting snow. Very weak surface snow is widespread across the Logan Zone, and a layer consisting of sugary faceted snow directly above the solid Thanksgiving crust appears to be gradually getting weaker. We've noticed and observers report increasing instances of localized shallow collapses and cracking.

  • There is more total snow and better coverage in the central and northern Bear River Range and at upper elevations.
  • Shallow early season snow conditions exist, and hitting rocks or stumps is a significant hazard. Travel cautiously and keep your speed down.
  • The Tony Grove Road is not maintained for wheeled travel in the winter.

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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Heightened wind slab avalanche conditions exist in exposed terrain and human triggered avalanches are possible on drifted upper elevation slopes.

  • Avoid fresh drifts in steep terrain near ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, saddles, rock bands, scoops, and sub-ridges.
  • Sluffs or avalanches entraining loose snow are possible in steep terrain.
  • A ride in even a small avalanche could be particularly dangerous now due to hard underlying snow and real potential for being dragged through rocks or deadfall below.
Additional Information

A cold Pacific system centered over southern Utah will move east of the state by this evening. A series of weather disturbances will cross northern Utah this weekend into early next week. There is potential for significant snowfall tomorrow night and Saturday in the Logan Zone, with a foot to a foot-and-a-half of accumulation possible.

  • Today will be partly sunny, with a high temperature at 8500' around 20°F and 11 to 15 mph north-northwest wind. Wind chill values will be as low a -9°F.
  • It'll be partly cloudy tonight with a low around 11°F and 9 to 13 mph west-northwest wind.
  • West wind will increase to around 15 mph on Friday. It will be mostly cloudy with a high temperature near 22°F and a 20% chance of snow in the afternoon.
General Announcements

Don’t know what to buy your favorite skier for Christmas? Discount lift tickets for Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Deer Valley, Snowbasin, and Beaver Mountain are now available, donated by the resorts to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details and order information here. These make a great holiday gift and all proceeds go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!

Now is a great time to sign up for an avalanche class. Go HERE for a list of UAC classes.

Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners.


EMAIL ADVISORY: If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI: Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC. Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

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.