Logan Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Toby Weed

BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

On most slopes in the region there's a LOW danger, and avalanches are generally unlikely.  However, pockets with a MODERATE danger exist in some areas.  This means there are dangerous conditions in some terrain features, and avalanches are possible.  In the heat of midday, you could trigger loose wet avalanches on some steep sunny slopes with saturated snow.   Although now fairly unlikely, the danger of possible deadly deep slab avalanches still  lingers on some steep upper and mid-elevation slopes.

Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, and use wise travel techniques....

CURRENT CONDITIONS

  You can still find some nice “loud powder” conditions in sheltered shady terrain and on more and more slopes facing both more east and more west.

It's currently an exceptionally warm, 41 degrees at the Campbell Scientific weather station on Logan Peak at 9700', and the wind sensor is reading an easterly breeze averaging less than 15 mph.  Expect 9000' high temperatures near 50 degrees today...

RECENT ACTIVITY

No significant new avalanches have been reported or observed in the backcountry....

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 8 hours.

Wet avalanches aren't too common around here in mid-January. But they are possible today, with mountain temperatures well above freezing and intense solar heating in bowls facing just the right direction and on slopes with just the right tilt...

THREAT #2
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

The danger of deadly deep slab avalanches is gradually diminishing, but weak sugary or faceted snow is still present at the very bottom of the snowpack...In many areas this weak snow has been compacted and compressed into the terrain by the tremendous load of the overlying slab.  But there might still be exceptions, especially in shallower areas and where the faceted basal layer makes up a higher percentage of the overall snowpack. 

Solar heating and mid-winter warmth are accelerating the creep and glide rates on steep slopes at upper elevations, and the danger of deep slab releases is increasing a bit on some slopes.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Expect sunny conditions in the mountains today, with high temperatures near  50 degrees at the mountain tops...Haze and smog will stay trapped in Cache Valley today, as a temperature inversion continues under a solid high pressure system.   The inversion will last for the next few days, with fair and mild weather in the mountains and cold fog and poison smog in the valleys...   Looks like increasing cloudiness toward the end of the work week as the ridge moves to the east, and a series of storm systems will probably bring some snow around the coming weekend.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and Cache Honda Yamaha invite you to attend an Avalanche Class for Snowmobilers. The class will start Thursday January 29th at 6:30 at CHY (3765 N. Hwy 91, Hyde Park), with an on-the-snow field session on Saturday, January 31st.  Cost: $25 per person for both sessions or $10 for Thursday's classroom session only. To register, please contact Cache Honda Yamaha at 563-6291.

New***   Click HERE for the online version of the Know Before You Go video.

The Utah Avalanche Center depends on contributions from users like you to support our work....You can support the Utah Avalanche Center and get discount lift tickets to  Beaver Mountain (here).  All proceeds from sales will support us through the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center....

Also the friends still have a few items left over from the Logan fundraiser and you can pick up a few killer deals right now..Here are the items that are still available: -

(2) One day passes to Park City Powder Cats to be used during January or March and before April 15th, 2009.  Retail value is $449 each. Suggested Donation: $225 each

-Men's Medium Patagonia Figure 4 Jacket Grey    Suggested Donation: $95

-Yamaha Leather Snowmobile Jacket Men's Medium     Black with Blue marks   Suggested Donation: $100

100% of your donation will support the Utah Avalanche Center.  Email loganavalanche@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these items.

The information in 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. 

I will update this advisory by 7:30 Wednesday morning.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  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.

This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.