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Logan
A SPECIAL AVALANCHE
ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF
Hello and good morning, this is Toby
Weed of the
Current Conditions:
With the
summer-like weather, it seems most of you are wisely engaged in warm weather
activities and staying out of the backcountry this weekend. I think I saw more boats than
snowmobiles heading up canyon yesterday morning, and I’m told that parking areas
at the popular fishin holes and climbing crags were
much more crowded than the trailheads.
Unless you’re already up in the high country this morning, you’ll
probably be too late to catch good spring snow conditions in most areas. The high pressure system caused a
typical temperature inversion overnight and it’s much colder in
Avalanche
Conditions:
I didn’t
receive reports of any significant avalanches from the backcountry yesterday…
However, wet loose and slab avalanches have been quite common across the region
in the past week, and the extremely warm temperatures may have pushed a number
of steep slopes close to their breaking point. Yesterday, I found sopping and fragile
snow conditions even on the bed surface of a huge two-week-old natural avalanche
in the
With
continued exceptionally hot weather, wet avalanches will be your main concern in
the backcountry. Today, the superficially frozen surface snow will get mushy and
dangerous even earlier than it did yesterday. Some sagging cornices are likely to
fail, potentially triggering avalanches on steep slushy slopes below. Once the snow gets softened and
saturated by the heat, wet avalanches will become likely on steep slopes at all
elevations. Persistent slab avalanches are very
possible on steep upper elevation slopes, and the problem is most certainly
worsened by the continuing heat-wave.
With substantially increased rates brought on by the heat and
gravity, creep and glide at different speeds within the snowpack could easily
cause large natural slab avalanches. Glide
avalanches, where the entire snowpack slowly slides along the ground until
it releases, are also possible in some steep and very sunny areas. Of most
concern to me is the occurrence of slab softening (also due to the heat), which
will make previously thick hard slabs more susceptible to human triggering. Slopes that easily supported your weight
a couple days ago may now be traps set with a hair trigger.
Bottom Line:
There’s a CONSIDERABLE danger in the backcountry today,
and wet avalanches are probable on steep slopes with heat-softened saturated
snow at all elevations. The danger
will rise with heating during the day and may increase to HIGH in some areas. Avalanches could step down into buried
weak layers and be large, destructive, deadly, and long-running. Once again we advise you to avoid and
stay out from under obvious and historic avalanche paths and steer clear of all
slopes steeper than about 35 degrees with wet snow.
Mountain Weather:
A strong high pressure system will
weaken today and temperatures will be a little cooler than yesterday’s. Monday will be fair and warm in the
morning, with clouds and winds increasing toward evening. An energetic Pacific
storm will bring gusty winds and a chance of lightning to the region on Tuesday,
and there’s a good chance we’ll pick up a bit of snow before it heads south on
Wednesday.
General Information:
Check out photos of last week's
avalanches in the Logan Area on our images
page.
Go to the Avalanche
Encyclopedia if you have any questions about terms I use in the
advisory. I also recommend the recently-released Media Page, which
shows the forecast danger for our coverage areas across the state.
Please e-mail me at
[email protected] or leave me a message at 755-3638 if you see or trigger
avalanches in the backcountry. The information you provide may save
lives...
This advisory will expire on Monday
morning. I will update it again on Tuesday evening.
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.
