AVALANCHE WARNING »
Dangerous avalanche conditions are occuring or are imminent.
Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
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Notice: We've issued an AVALANCHE WARNING for all the mountains of Utah. Recent and expected heavy new snow accumulating on a weak preexisting snowpack is producing dangerous avalanche conditions in the backcountry. Numerous accidents have occurred over the last few days and more are probable this weekend. We recommend that you avoid travel in avalanche terrain. You are urged to stay clear of and out from under all steep slopes and obvious or historic avalanche paths..... |
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BOTTOM LINE
Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)
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Danger Rose Tutorial
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There is a HIGH (4) avalanche danger in the backcountry today. Both natural and triggered storm snow, wind slab, and persistent slab avalanches are likely on many steep slopes in the region... You are likely to trigger dangerous persistent or deep slab avalanches 2 to 4 feet deep on slopes steeper than about 30 degrees, especially on those with shallow and weak previous snow cover and with recent deposits of heavy new and especially wind-drifted snow.
We recommend that you avoid travel in avalanche terrain this weekend. You are urged to stay clear of and out from under all steep slopes and obvious or historic avalanche paths..... |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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The Central Bear River Range received a good shot of heavy snow yesterday, and we'll see plenty more today. The Tony Grove Snotel reports about 1 foot of new snow from yesterday's blizzard, with 9/10ths of an inch of water accumulation in the last 24 hours, 1.4 inches in the last 48 hrs. With 62 inches of total snow on the ground, the station sits at 52% of normal water content for the date....
The wind sensor at the CSI weather station at 9700' on Logan Peak recorded diminishing west winds overnight after yesterday's strong and sustained gale from the southwest, and its 11 degrees this morning. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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Much avalanche activity was reported to the Utah Avalanche Center in the last couple days, with at least five people in the Utah backcountry caught and carried in scary avalanches. Yesterday, in the backcountry near Brighton Ski Area, a close call was reported, with the total burial of a skier who was recovered by his partner using a beacon.
More information posted here.
Locally; On Thursday In the north fork of Cottonwood Canyon, an experienced but fairly large party triggered two avalanches on adjacent north facing slopes at around 8000'....the third person up the skin track was caught and carried in the second avalanche, which broke 2 to 3 feet deep and around 40 feet above him while ascending skin track near the flank of the first avalanche...
2010 is so-far quite an active year for avalanches in the backcountry around Logan...Here's an updated local backcountry avalanche list:
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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Triggered and natural storm snow and wind slab avalanches are likely this weekend on steep slopes with significant deposits of new and especially wind drifted snow. |
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THREAT #2 |
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| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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As heavy and drifted new snow overloads slopes plagued by existing weak sugary layers, very dangerous persistent and deep slab avalanches are now also likely... Deep hard slab avalanches could step down to weak snow near the ground and be very broad and destructive. Smaller avalanches overrunning slopes with a buried weak layer could cause a much larger and more dangerous avalanche. In these conditions you might trigger avalanches from a distance, or worse, from below.... |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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Expect sustained moderate west winds and continued heavy snowfall today and tonight, with 10 to 18 inches of accumulation possible in the forecast for the Central Bear River Mountains by tomorrow morning...A short-lived high pressure system will build over the region Sunday and Monday before the next wave of Pacific storminess impacts the Northern Utah Mountains. At this point Tuesady's storm is showing signs of splitting, but the models are in disagreement and there is potential for it to be fairly productive for the mountains in our area.... |
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
I will be issuing morning avalanche advisories for the Logan area on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Consider purchasing some Beaver Mountain lift tickets here from our good friends at Backcountry.com in partnership with Ski Utah. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center.
If you want to get this avalanche advisory e-mailed to you daily click HERE.
Send us your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call me at 435-757-7578 or the SLC office at 800-662-4140, or email to uac@utahavalanchecenter.org
Donate to your favorite non-profit – The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The UAC depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.
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.
I will update this forecast Monday morning. Thanks for checking in.... |
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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. |
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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. |
