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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Very dangerous avalanche conditions and HIGH danger exist on drifted upper elevation slopes, in areas that had snow before Thanksgiving. It's much less dangerous and there are nice deep powder conditions where there was no snow on the ground before the holiday, but storm snow and soft wind slab avalanches are possible in many areas. Avoid travel in upper elevation avalanche terrain with weak underlying snow. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
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Special Announcements
Join us on Wednesday December 5th to celebrate the coming of winter! Our 15th Annual Pray for Snow Party and Fundraiser is at The Cache with music from Two Headed Trout, pizza from Lucky Slice, beverages from Moab Brewery, and a raffle and silent auction if amazing donated items. Thanks for your support of avalanche awareness and education. We look forward to seeing you! Tickets available online: CLICK HERE.
Weather and Snow
Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist on upper elevation slopes that held snow before the Thanksgiving storm. Natural and human triggered persistent slab avalanches are likely. Much less danger and excellent powder conditions exist where was no pre-Thanksgiving snow, but the fresh snow is piling up rapidly and new snow and wind slab avalanches are becoming increasingly possible on many slopes.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 13" of new snow with 1.4" Snow Water Equivalent in the last 24 hours and 2.8" since 11/28. It's 17º F and there's 44"of total snow, containing 119% of average SWE for the date. It's 10º F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station and a northwest wind is blowing 20 to 30 mph, with gusts around 40 mph.
It'll be mostly cloudy and snow is likely in the mountains again later today, mainly after 11:00 AM, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. High temperatures at 8500' will be around 22º F, with 13 to 16 mph southwest wind, and wind chill values around -3º F. 1 to 2 inches of additional accumulation is possible tonight, with a low temperature around 12º F and 7 to 11 mph south winds, veering from the east. 1 to 3 inches of accumulation is forecast for the Bear River Range on Sunday, with high temperatures around 21º F, and calming easterly winds. High pressure will return once again early in the upcoming week.
Recent Avalanches
There were numerous natural and perhaps a couple remote triggered persistent slab avalanches at upper elevations in the central Bear River Range over the Thanksgiving weekend.
It was an active day yesterday in the backcountry of central Wasatch Range yesterday, with a few good sized remote and skier triggered avalanches reported.
A remote triggered avalanche in South Monitor Bowl on the Park City Ridge-line. This avalanche is a repeater, having previously avalanched on 11/23/18
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Dangerous natural and human triggered persistent slab avalanches are likely in shady upper elevation terrain that didn't naturally avalanche during the Thanksgiving storm. Even small avalanches can be very dangerous with such shallow snow cover. You could get dragged through rocks or deadfall if you get caught and carried.
  • Very weak faceted snow pre-existed the Thanksgiving storm snow on shady upper and mid-elevation slopes.
  • The weak snow was fairly shallow in the Logan Zone, so resulting slab avalanches will likely be on smooth slopes or in pockets between rocky anchors and terrain features.
  • Collapsing and cracking indicate that the snow is unstable.
Shallow but loose faceted snow lurks under the Thanksgiving slab, and fresh powder is piling up on north facing slopes at upper elevations.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
  • Loose sluffs and soft slab avalanches involving new snow are possible on steep slopes that have received significant accumulations in the past couple days. Increased instability and natural avalanches are possible during periods of particularly heavy snowfall.
Avalanche Problem #3
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Moderate but gusty winds drifted the light fresh snow at upper elevations, building soft drifts on the lee side of sub-ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, cliff bands,  scoops, and tree stringers..   Avoid recently drifted snow in steep terrain.  
General Announcements
The Tony Grove Road is open but not maintained for winter travel of wheeled vehicles. You won't get far if you try to drive up today.
Snow is stacking up on the slopes of Beaver Mountain, and managers are glad to allow uphill traffic. You can avoid the Tony Grove Road challenge, find generally safe conditions in lower angled terrain, and help pack out the ski hill. Nice powder conditions were reported from up there yesterday, and good coverage. Remember, before it opens, Beaver Mountain is the backcountry.
Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. Here is our practice video.....
Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. HERE You can call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your 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.
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