AVALANCHE WATCH »
The risk of an avalanche is expected to increase significantly
but the timing and location are still uncertain. Stay tuned for updates.
|
 |
Notice: We will issue an AVALANCHE WATCH for the mountains of Northern and Central Utah, to include the Bear River Range, the Western Uintas and the Wasatch Plateau. Expected heavy snowfall and strong wind over the weekend and into next week will create dangerous avalanche conditions in the backcountry. The danger will be on the rise, and backcountry travelers will want to exercise caution with the changing conditions. |
|
|
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 level 1 or Low danger in the backcountry around Logan, and you'll find generally safe avalanche conditions.. Exceptions and pockets with a level 2 danger exist at upper elevations, mainly on steep drifted slopes. Triggered wind slab and loose snow avalanches are possible. Watch for unstable snow on steep slopes, especially in exposed areas and on the lee sides of ridge tops. |
|
|
CURRENT CONDITIONS |
|
Cold temperatures kept Tuesday night's snow nice and soft and even dried it out. You'll find fine shallow powder riding conditions in the backcountry again today, with a few inches of sparkly re-crystallized snow on a supportable base at lower elevations, and several more inches of loosening "loud powder" on a glassy rain-crust up high. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 63 inches of total snow at the site containing 175% of average water for the date. The CSI weather station on Logan Peak reports sustained moderate winds overnight from the southeast, and its 7 degrees at 9400'. |
|
|
RECENT ACTIVITY |
|
We've received reports of and observed numerous natural and a few triggered loose dry sluffs and small shallow soft wind slabs, mainly at upper elevations...... |
|
|
THREAT #1 |
|
| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Over the next
24 hours.
|
|
|
Overnight winds shifted from southeast to south and sustained hourly average windspeeds in the 15-20 mph range, which is plenty strong enough to drift the light surface snow into wind slabs. Watch for stiffer drifted snow or potential wind slabs near ridge lines and in and around deposition prone terrain features like gullies, cliff-bands, and sub-ridges. You could trigger wind slabs around a foot deep on freshly drifted slopes approaching 35 degrees or steeper. |
|
|
THREAT #2 |
|
| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Over the next
24 hours.
|
|
|
Loose avalanches involving the weakening surface snow snow are likely again today, and these are fairly manageable and generally non-threatening unless you are on a steep slope above trees or other potential terrain traps like cliffs or sink holes, or you get hit by one from above..... |
|
|
MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
|
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the mountains of Northern Utah starting late tonight and extending through Monday morning. A moist flow from the southwest will bring a prolonged period of snow for the weekend. Two feet of accumulation is possible on upper elevation slopes in favored areas. Increasing southwest winds are also expected.... Snow levels will begin in the valleys but rise to 7500' or 8000' or higher on Sunday. Moist and snowy weather is likely to continue well into next week. |
|
|
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
You can view a photo summary of last year's avalanche activity in the Logan Area HERE
Send us your avalanche and snow observations. You can also call me at 435-757-7578, 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.
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 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. |
