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Forecast for the Logan Area Mountains

Toby Weed
Issued by Toby Weed for
Friday, March 7, 2014

Heightened avalanche conditions exist and there is a MODERATE or Level 2 danger in the Logan Area backcountry. Large cornice falls and triggered wind slab avalanches are possible in drifted upper elevation terrain, and wet avalanches will become more likely on sunny slopes as the day warms this afternoon. Unlikely, but dangerous deep slab avalanches remain possible in some outlying, shallow and rocky areas. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, and continue to use safe backcountry travel protocols.

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Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
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Weather and Snow

Strong southwest winds diminished significantly and veered from the north late yesterday and overnight, and temperatures are around 10 degrees cooler this morning than yesterday. It's 27 degrees this morning, and the Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports a few inches of new snow from yesterday containing .60 inches of water, 122 inches of total snow, and 138% of average water content for the date. The 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station reports 20 degrees and light wind from the north-northwest.

Clearly, a bit of drifting occurred Wednesday night and yesterday in upper elevation terrain.


Recent Avalanches

Other than a few reported intentionally triggered wind slabs and cornice drops from earlier in the week, no significant avalanches occurred in the Logan Zone since the natural activity during last weekend's very wet and windy storm.

Evidence of some recent natural deep slab avalanche activity visible on the east side of the Wellsville Range above Mendon. 3-5-2014

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Avalanche Problem #1
Cornice
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Avoid and stay out from under large and overhanging cornices along major ridge-lines, which are likely to break further back than you expect and might trigger avalanches on drifted slopes below. Large cornice-falls and triggered wind slab avalanches are possible and perhaps still likely in drifted upper elevation terrain today. Watch for and avoid stiffer drifted snow or potential wind slabs on the lee sides of major ridge lines and in and around terrain features like rock outcroppings, sub-ridges and gullies.

Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

The widespread weak faceted snow from the first half of the season snow appears dormant for the most part and is so deeply buried and bridged now at upper elevations in the Central Bear River Range that It would be difficult for us to trigger a deep slab avalanche. Dangerous deep slab avalanches failing on faceted weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack are still possible in outlying shallow, rocky, or previously wind-scoured terrain that is now drifted or sun-warmed. The intentionally triggered deep slab on a small test slope in Franklin Basin and the large natural deep slab in shallower Wellsville Mountain terrain, which occurred on Saturday 3-1-2014 illustrate the potential.

Avalanche Problem #3
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Cooler temperatures will help a lot with this problem, and I expect we'll find more solidly refrozen saturated snow at lower elevations than we've seen in several days. Loose Wet Avalanches are still possible on steep sun warmed slopes and in lower elevation terrain where the snow is still quite wet. Avoid and stay out from under steep slopes with soft saturated snow during the heat of midday and be especially careful above trees, benches, or other terrain traps that you could be dragged into.

Additional Information

Expect showery weather this morning, becoming sunny in the afternoon. Not much is expected in the way of accumulation, and it'll be several degrees cooler today than yesterday, with 8500' high temperatures around 30 degrees. It'll be partly cloudy tonight, with low temperatures around 22 and fairly light north winds. Looks like warmth and sunshine will return for the weekend, and unsettled, moist weather will continue next week. Expect high temperatures in the mid forties in the mountains on Sunday and snow on Monday.

Check out our one-stop weather page........HERE

General Announcements

Campsaver and The Utah Avalanche Center in Logan are teaming up to give away a avalanche rescue kit - beacon, shovel and probe!
That's almost $400 worth of essential backcountry gear! The more you share and like, the more chances you have of winning. Winner will be drawn at random early next week. Link is HERE

Show Us You Know the Snow: US & Canadian avy groups have a challenge to sidecountry riders: Use your camera to tell a short video story about how your crew gets ready to safely ride beyond the resort boundary. Videos will be posted & promoted by GoPro & other partners. The contest will run till Mar 21. The winner will be determined by a combination of most views & an expert panel. Prizes include: 2 days at Monashee Powder Snowcats, 2 4-day Gold Passes to any US resort, a Backcountry Access Float 22 airbag, gear from Backcountry.com, editing help and support from Sherpas Cinema, & more. Winners will be announced in late March. . Details at knowthesnow.com Please share this with your friends

A video look at a HUGE natural avalanche in the Wellsville Range, from 2-19-2014...........HERE

Check out "Beaver Backside is the Backcountry," an Avalanche observation video from 2-16-2014 .....HERE

A child's perspective on last week's natural wet avalanche above Zanavoo in Logan Canyon filmed on 2-17-2014 .......HERE

Discount lift tickets are available at Backcountry.com - Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts, including Beaver Mountain. All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

Follow us at UAClogan on Twitter

I'll issue these advisories on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings.

This advisory is produced by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.

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