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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Dangerous avalanche conditions and CONSIDERABLE danger exist on 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 avalanches involving fresh storm snow are possible on many steep slopes. Evaluate snow carefully, use cautious route finding, and make conservative decisions.
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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
Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on upper elevation slopes that held snow before the Thanksgiving storm. Human triggered persistent slab avalanches are likely. Much less danger and excellent powder conditions exist where is no old pre-Thanksgiving snow.
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports only an inch or two new snow in the last 24 hours. The station reports 28" of accumulation and 2.8" SWE since 11/28. It's 17º F and there's 39"of total snow, containing 118% of average SWE for the date. It's 10º F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station and a east wind is blowing around 20 mph.
It'll be mostly cloudy and snow is likely in the mountains again today, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. High temperatures at 8500' will be around 25º F, with 5 mph east-northeast wind. Snow showers are possible tonight and tomorrow, but not much accumulation is expected. It'll be cloudy tonight with calm winds and low temperatures around 9º F. Mostly cloudy again Monday, with light west winds and high temperatures around 21º F. High pressure will return once again early in the upcoming week, and the next storm looks to impact the Logan Zone later in the week.
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone since a natural cycle at upper elevations on Thanksgiving weekend.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Dangerous human triggered avalanches running on a persistent weak layer 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, soft slab, and wind slab avalanches involving new snow are possible on steep slopes that have received significant accumulations in the past couple days.
  • 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.
Beaver Mountain is glad to allow uphill traffic. You can find generally safe conditions in lower angled terrain, and help pack out the ski hill. Nice powder conditions and good coverage were reported yesterday. 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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