Heightened loose wet avalanche conditions exist today on steep sunny slopes in the backcountry. Storm and wind slab avalanches are possible at upper elevations and on drifted slopes. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
Special AnnouncementsUAC Gear Sale Fundraiser: We still have some donated gear and certificates left over from the season. Want a guided rock climbing or canyoneering trip in Moab? How about a new pair of skis for some spring ski missions? Check out our gear sale photo album to see if we have what you need. This is a fundraising sale for the Utah Avalanche Center all proceeds benefit avalanche forecasting and education. Click here to visit the sale!
Weather and SnowTemperatures at all stations dropped well below freezing last night for several hours, slowly refreezing saturated snow insulated beneath yesterday's heavy new snow. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 25 °F and about 8" of snow in the last 48 hrs. There's 105" of total snow, with 144% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent). A 4 mph west wind is blowing at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station and it's 20 °F. Warmth and lots of sun will turn several inches of fresh snow to the consistency of mashed potatoes and create heightened wet avalanche conditions in steep terrain today. Triggered and natural wet sluffs are possible, and avalanches entraining significant piles of saturated fresh snow could occur on sustained slopes.
Recent AvalanchesA large cornice fall avalanche last weekend on Cornice Ridge could have been human triggered. The cornice "thundered" as it collapsed and ran down the bowl below.
Extraordinarily large cornices are unstable due to several days of unseasonably warm weather.
Tuesday we could see recent large wet avalanches off Mitton Peak in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness. Cornice fall triggered wet slabs up high. Then below, overrunning wet snow pulled out a glide avalanche to the rocks.
Triggered and natural avalanches entraining fresh loose wet snow are possible on steep slopes at upper and mid elevations.
High pressure will build into the area today, followed by a Pacific weather disturbance late tonight through Saturday, and another storm system during the first half of next week. Today will be sunny, a high temperature at 8500' of 41 °F and 5 to 10 mph northwest wind veering from the southwest in the afternoon. Tonight, clouds will increase and snow is likely after midnight, but little accumulation is expected. A low temperature of 32 °F and 10 to 18 mph south-southwest wind expected. Saturday, 2 to 4 inches of snow is possible, with a high temperature of 35 °F and 9 to 18 mph southwest wind.
Discount lift tickets for Beaver Mountain, Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, and the Central Wasatch resorts are donated by the resorts to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details and order information here.
Do you buy groceries at Smiths? When you register your Smith’s rewards card with their Community Rewards program, they will donate to the Utah Avalanche Center whenever you make a purchase. It's easy, only takes a minute, and doesn't cost you anything. Details here.
If you sign up for AmazonSmile and designate the Utah Avalanche Center as your favorite charity, they will donate a portion of everything you spend to the UAC. It doesn't cost you a penny and we'd really appreciate the help.
Your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. You can call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include @utavy in your Instagram. In the Logan Area you can reach me at 435-757-7578
We will update this advisory regularly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by about 7:30.
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 exist.
