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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed on
Friday morning, April 13, 2018

Dangerous avalanche conditions and CONSIDERABLE danger exist in drifted terrain at upper elevations. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered wind slab avalanches likely. Continued drifting from strong northwest winds will build and harden existing wind slabs and may cause the danger to rise and become more widespread. Soft slab and loose avalanches involving storm snow are possible at mid and upper elevations even in sheltered terrain.

  • Cooling will help, but loose wet avalanches are still possible, especially if the sun peaks out this afternoon.
  • Avoid travel in drifted upper elevation terrain. Stay off and out from under ridge-top cornices.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Make conservative decisions.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Special Announcements

Lift tickets for Snowbasin remaining. The tickets are discounted almost 50%. Details and order information here. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!

Weather and Snow

You'll find very nice powder riding and skiing in the backcountry today, especially in sheltered terrain. But, with well over a foot of new snow, even at mid-elevations, and drifting from strong westerly winds yesterday and overnight, dangerous avalanche conditions likely exist in drifted terrain at upper elevations. Blustery weather and strong northwest winds today will continue to drift the nice powder into lee slope avalanche starting zones and deposition areas in and around terrain features.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 14 inches of new snow with 1.3" SWE in the last 24 hours. It's 18°F, and there is 82" of total snow with 94% of average SWE.
  • The UDOT ​Hwy 89 Logan Summit weather station reports 18°F, and 10 to 20 mph northwest winds, with overnight gusts around 40 mph.

There is still plenty of snow up high, but getting there is an issue. Please do your best to limit resource damage. Stay on roads and avoid riding over bare ground, melted out meadows, and sage brush. It is possible to bring your trailer up the Tony Grove Road to the first overlook where you can park close to the retreating snow.

Recent Avalanches

Other than loose wet activity in steep terrain with last weekend's storm no significant avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone recently.

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

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on drifted slopes at upper elevations, and human triggered wind slab avalanches up to 2-feet-deep are likely. The avalanche danger will continue to rise and become more widespread at mid and upper elevations as drifts get deeper and harder. Avalanches will most likely involve just drifted new snow from yesterday and overnight, but some could step down to last weekend's rain-crust.

  • Avoid drifted snow on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and rock outcrops.
  • Stay off and out from under large overhanging cornices, which might break further back than you expect and could trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
Avalanche Problem #2
New Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Soft slab avalanches and sluffs entraining storm snow are also possible on steep slopes, even in sheltered terrain at upper and mid elevations.

Avalanche Problem #3
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Much cooler temperatures and a breeze will help keep loose wet activity to a minimum, but seasonal warming will cause heightened wet avalanche conditions, especially if the sun peaks out from time to time this afternoon. Natural and triggered loose wet avalanches (or sluffs) entraining saturated surface snow are possible.

  • Avoid being on or under steep slopes with saturated surface snow.

Loose wet avalanches were pretty common last weekend in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.

Additional Information

The cold Pacific storm system over eastern Utah will exit into the central Rockies this morning. High pressure aloft will return to the interior west for the weekend. The next storm system will impact the region early next week.

  • Today: Snow showers likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Wind chill values as low as -3. Windy, with a northwest wind 26 to 34 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
  • Tonight: Isolated snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 9 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph.
General Announcements

Episode 7 of the UAC Podcast "Mastery and False Mastery - An Interview with 'Big' Don Sharaf" is live. With a snow career spanning over 30 years, Don has enough mileage in the mountains to have learned a thing or two, including the profound value of humility when staring into the face of the dragon. Listen in on our conversation about the idea of mastery and if such a thing can exist in the avalanche world. Check it out on ​the UAC blog, ITunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The UAC has new support programs with Outdoor Research and Darn Tough. Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at Outdoor Research, REI, Backcountry.com, Darn Tough, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay a portion of your purchase will be donated to the FUAC. See our Donate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop.

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 Check it out on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. Here's our rescue practice video.

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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. You can also 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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