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 level 2 or Moderate danger, and heightened avalanche conditions exist on steep slopes at upper and mid elevations. You might trigger dangerous cornice falls along exposed ridge-lines or persistent slab avalanches, up to a couple feet deep, on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. Triggered new snow and loose wet avalanches are also possible in areas that received more snow. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.....

CURRENT CONDITIONS

You'll find nice powder riding conditions in the backcountry today, with more and drier new snow at upper elevations. We found riding in the deep fresh snow somewhat unforgiving, and it was pretty easy to get badly stuck up in Providence Canyon yesterday if you couldn't get your sled turned downhill in time. Trail breaking seems to be getting a bit easier on skis

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports no new snow and 18 degrees. There's 79 inches of total snow at the site containing 189% of average water for the date. The wind sensor at the CSI weather station on Logan Peak is still rimed, and it's not reading wind speeds again this morning, but it's 17 degrees up at 9400'. Mt. Ogden reports light northwest winds this morning.....

RECENT ACTIVITY

Ski resorts in the Salt Lake and Ogden Areas report triggering some good sized avalanches with explosives yesterday. Locally, I could see a couple fresh natural avalanches off the east side of Providence Peak.... They were below huge cornices and were likely triggered by cornice falls. There was a fairly widespread avalanche cycle across the region late last weekend, but we've received no reports of any triggered avalanches in the backcountry.

THREAT #1
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

Cornices built out and up in a big way in the last week. These could still be fairly sensitive and are likely to break further back than you might expect. Warming temperatures today and on Christmas will cause these monsters to sag and some to perhaps calve off large chunks....

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

I've found weak layers above and below the prominent rime-crust from earlier in the month... In most cases, these appear to have strengthened over the past few days, but I still don't just blindly trust all steep slopes. Although becoming more unlikely, you still might trigger dangerous and destructive persistent or hard slab avalanches on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. These are most likely in very steep previously drifted upper elevation terrain and on rocky slopes or those with a shallow snowpack.

THREAT #3
WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 24 hours.

The storm snow may still be unstable on some slopes, especially on steep drifted slopes. Solar warming could cause a danger of loose wet avalanches on steep slopes with saturated snow.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Fair weather in the mountains above the fog today and tomorrow, with Christmas temperatures a bit warmer. A small disturbance will move through the region on Sunday, but it doesn't look very threatening. A more potent weather system is possible around the middle of 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

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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.