Wasatch-Cache National Forest  In partnership with:  Utah State Parks and Recreation, Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center-Logan, and Utah State University College of Natural Resources.

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Logan area Avalanche advisory

Saturday February 18, 2006

Hello, this is Toby Weed of the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center with your Logan area backcountry avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  It's Saturday February 18th at 7:00 am.  This advisory is brought to you in part by the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan with help from avalanchetools.com.

Current Conditions:

You can still find good powder conditions on sheltered shady slopes with soft re-crystallized snow underlying Wednesday's storm snow.  I've found the best conditions on mid-elevation north and northeast facing slopes. You can still feel the wind-hammered or scratchy old snow underneath the new snow on lots of slopes as well.  Although it stayed cold yesterday, the sun is higher in the sky these days and powerful solar warming damaged the new snow on southerly facing slopes, forming a breakable zipper-crust by evening.  We are expecting a couple inches of fresh snowfall today and fairly strong southerly winds along the ridge-tops.  This morning at the CSI weather station on Logan Peak temperatures are back up into the mid-single digits and a south wind is averaging 23 mph.

Snow and Avalanche Conditions:

 With moderately strong southerly winds in the forecast for today, we'll need to watch for recently formed or forming wind-drifts on steep slopes, especially near ridge-tops. The wind will drift today's new snow and any available transportable powder from Wednesday's storm into lee slope avalanche stating zones and ridge-top fetch areas.  It will also cross-load snow into gullies and along sub-ridges, forming stiff slabs that could be sensitive to your weight. 

 Wednesday's new snow is bonded pretty well to the old on most slopes, and with the exception of the drifts, the cold powder just didn't form a slab.  Thus, avalanches are generally unlikely on the majority of slopes in the area.  I've felt pretty comfortable on steep slopes in avalanche terrain, and I didn't notice any significant avalanches in my travels the last few days. In fact, no one's reported any recent avalanche activity in the region. Yesterday in the Central Wasatch however, backcountry travelers triggered a couple pockety hard slabs or stiff drifts on steep slopes near ridge-lines. We have similar conditions in this area, and strongish winds and some snowfall today are likely to refresh the problem.  Watch for upper and mid-elevation wind-drifted slopes facing northwest through east and steeper than about 35 degrees.  You might find deeper and more widespread drifts (and more danger) in the Wellsville Range, the southernmost Bear River Range, and the mountains above Mantua, where more snow fell during the week. 

Bottom Line:

There's a MODERATE danger and avalanches are possible on some wind-drifted slopes steeper than about 35 degrees in the backcountry.   You will find a LOW danger, with avalanches generally unlikely on the majority of steep non-wind-drifted slopes in the region.

Mountain Weather:

  A flagging and disorganized storm will affect the region today and tomorrow, but it looks like this time most of the energy will pass to our south. We'll pick up a couple inches during the day today, with locally higher amounts possible.  Light or showery snowfall will continue through Sunday, and a cold mostly dry northwest flow will continue through the upcoming week.

General Information: 

For a list of recent avalanches in  the regional backcountry go to Avalanche List.  Snow nerds, check out the new Snow Profiles page.  Check out our Images Page for pictures of recent local avalanches.

Please send backcountry observations to [email protected] or leave a message at 755-3638, especially if you see or trigger an avalanche in the backcountry. We really want to hear from you, even if you think your observation is unimportant.    The information you provide may save lives...

  I will update this advisory on Sunday morning by about 7:00.

The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content.  This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. 

National Weather Service - Salt Lake City - Snow.