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

There is a CONSIDERABLE (3) avalanche danger at upper and mid-elevations in the backcountry, and dangerous human triggered avalanches are probable. Avalanches could be triggered from a distance or from below....Continue to avoid and stay out from under steep slopes and obvious or historic avalanche paths today....


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Local 8000 foot Snotel sites report more than 2 inches of water equivalent snowfall from over the weekend. The Tony Grove site reports around 20 inches of accumulation on the total snow stake, (which is including settlement of both the old and new snow.)

You should continue to avoid travel in avalanche terrain today....Upper and mid-elevation elevation northerly facing slopes that had a fair amount of preexisting snow are the most dangerous and will likely produce significant and dangerous avalanches if triggered.. Definitely not a good day for hill-climbing with a CONSIDERABLEavalanche danger on any upper and mid-elevation hills with enough snow-cover to ride up…….Remember to slow down and watch out for pedestrians, especially in congested areas like Tony Grove.


RECENT ACTIVITY

In the Wasatch backcountry from over the weekend come a few survival stories, with at least 5 people caught in avalanches and carried, 4 partially buried, and 1 person fully buried but rescued OK.....There were many natural and a few triggered avalanches in the Logan Area as well.

Although few got out into the Logan Area backcountry over the weekend, I got reports of knee to thigh deep new snow in the Tony Grove area. One observer reported, "There was collapsing on flat and low angle slopes while we walked up. Shooting cracks. The snow had that very hollow feel while taking runs. Very unstable."

In fact, Logan Area observers reported collapsing, cracking, wind loading, rapidly accumulating snow, rapid warming, and avalanche activity over the weekend... These are all signs of unstable snow...It'll be interesting to try and determine the extent of a natural cycle in our area, which likely occurred late Sunday. Any reports of avalanche activity in the backcountry will be most appreciated as I try to size up the details...

Human triggered avalanches are likely today as deep heavy snow accumulated on slopes with very weak preexisting snow.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Ugly faceted snow plagues most upper and mid elevation slopes, and new slabs built by significant heavy snow this weekend caused an unstable snow structure and a drastic increase in avalanche danger….........

Although natural activity should be tapering off today, a great danger of triggering dangerous avalanches remains...In these conditions avalanches can easily be triggered remotely, from a distance or from below. Also lower angled slopes can become involved in avalanches if attached to steeper ones that rip out....


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Although the region is under a high pressure system and will remain so for much of the week, a series of weak storms will push through the northern Bear River Range this afternoon through Thursday. We are likely to see some snowfall in the mountains, but not a whole lot...Wednesday appears to offer the best chance for a couple inches of accumulation.

Expect mountain high temperatures near 30 degrees today with a fairly light southwest breeze....


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

I will be issuing morning avalanche advisories for the Logan area on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

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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.


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.