MODERATE: Heightened avalanche conditions exist, with human triggered avalanches of wind drifted new snow up to about a foot deep possible on many upper and mid elevation slopes. Wet avalanches remain possible at lower elevations, and if the sun pops out it will cause wet avalanche danger to quickly increase.
Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
-Stay off and out from under steep slopes with fresh drifted snow and large ridge top cornices.
-Avoid travel in gullies and on or below steep slopes with melt-softened saturated snow.
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Spring is here and it is time to adjust our travel. Learn what to watch for during spring avalanche conditions when the snow becomes wet. Watch our Spring video HERE
Weather and Snow
The storm brought rain to Cache Valley and a few inches of fresh snow to the mountains, but most importantly, colder temperatures. The Tony Grove Snotel reports 4 inches with .4" SWE in the last 24 hours, and 8" from the storm. It's 24ºF this morning, and there is 85" of total snow. I'm reading 16ºF at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and northwest winds are averaging 22 mph, with gusts approaching 40 mph.
Accumulations of fresh snow and drifting from blustery north-northwest winds created heightened avalanche conditions on upper and mid elevation slopes, and avalanches of new and wind drifted snow are possible for people to trigger. Cooler temperatures will help with the wet avalanche problem today, but it stayed above freezing in Cache Valley, so avalanches of wet snow are possible at lower elevations. The danger of wet avalanches could increase rapidly in sunny terrain if the sun peeks out of the clouds for a while.
Cool and unsettled conditions continue today and tomorrow as additional weather disturbances move into the area from the northwest. High pressure is expected for Saturday.
Snow showers are likely today, especially this afternoon with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation possible. High temperatures at 8500' are expected to be around 31ºF, with 17 to 22 mph west-northwest wind. Snow showers are likely tonight, with 3 to 7 inches possible. Expect low temperatures around 22ºF, and 15 to 18 mph west winds. There's a 50% chance of snow showers tomorrow, with thunder storms possible. It'll be mostly cloudy, with high temperatures around 32ºF amd 15 mph northwest wind.
Recent Avalanches
Despite poor visibility, we could see some minor natural activity in the Wellsville Range yesterday (4/10/19), with one fairly sizable new avalanche noted in North Shumway Canyon.
4/10/19 natural avalanche in North Shumway Canyon in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.
Numerous fairly large natural wet loose and a few wet slab avalanches occurred late last week across the Logan Zone. Wet loose and wet slab avalanches occurred with daytime solar warming.
A natural wet loose avalanche overrunning a steep mid elevation slope, triggered a wet slab avalanche and created quite a mess below Mitton Peak in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness (4/5/19).
Natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches were widespread in the Bear River and Wellsville Mountain Ranges last week.
Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Heightened avalanche conditions exist on drifted upper and mid elevation slopes. Human triggered avalanches involving drifted new snow up to about a foot deep are possible in many areas. These probably won't be too big, but they could run far and fast. In some cases, new snow or wind slab avalanches could entrain wet snow in descent and might grow to become large and destructive on sustained low elevation slopes.
Avoid drifted new snow on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, rocky outcrops, cliffs, and tree stringers.
Stay off and out from under large ridge top cornices, which are likely to break further back than expected, and could trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Temperatures finally dipped below freezing in the mountains, but it stayed warmer in the valleys and a few inches of snow insulated the warm wet snow at mid and lower elevations. Wet loose and wet slab avalanches remain possible for people to trigger, and natural wet loose activity is still possible in places. If the sun comes out from behind the clouds for any period, rapid warming will cause a quick increase in danger of wet loose avalanches entraining the fresh snow.
Continue to avoid being on or under steep slopes with melt-softened saturated snow, and stay out of runout gullies.
Additional Information
I will update this forecast Friday morning.
General Announcements
Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. You should check out and use the new Avalanche Beacon Training Park we set up at the Franklin Basin trailhead. Special thanks to Northstars Ultimate Outdoors, USU Outdoor Program, and Beaver Mountain Ski Patrol for helping us to make this possible.
Check out the improved weather links, road conditions, and weather links for each forecast region on the new UAC IOS App. Do you use the NOAA point forecast? If so, now you can bookmark your favorite weather locations in "My Weather" in the App. HERE
Are you new to the backcountry or looking to refresh your skills? The UAC has released a free 5-part avalanche skills eLearning series. HERE
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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 forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
