There is a level 2 or Moderate danger and heightened avalanche conditions exist on drifted slopes in the backcountry. You might trigger fresh or forming wind slabs on steep slopes at upper and mid elevations in exposed terrain. You'll find safer conditions and a level 1 (or Low) danger in sheltered and lower elevation areas. Use normal caution and continue following safe travel protocols, but evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially on steep drifted slopes.

Wind, sun, and rime-crusts exist in many areas, now capped by a few inches of fresh light snow from the last few days. In many areas, the new snow looks to have nicely preserved weak surface snow consisting of insidious frost or surface hoar and small grained faceted snow on many slopes. The Campbell Scientific weather station at 9700' on Logan Peak is back on line, and we're reading sustained southwest winds averaging around 20 mph overnight and this morning. It's 14 degrees at the mountain top installation. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 3 inches of new snow from Monday afternoon, with 2/10ths of an inch of water. Its a pleasant 20 degrees this morning, and there's 75 inches of total snow at the site containing 140% of average water for the date.

Yesterday, folks reported shallow and manageable soft wind slab activity on drifted slopes in most mountain areas along the front, from Provo to Logan. Locally, we triggered several small wind slabs yesterday up in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.... One was mid-slope on the lee side of a spur in the huge bed-surface of the 12/29/2010 Rattlesnake Canyon Avalanche (more photos). I triggered the 1' deep and 30' wide soft slab with a slope-cut as we traversed off the Mitton Peak Face at around 7600'. By the looks of things, and since significant surface drifting was still occurring as we left the ridge late yesterday afternoon, the danger of wind slab avalanches appears to be rising and becoming more widespread in exposed terrain...

We'll see clouds today and continued moderate southwest winds. Temperatures will maintain readings close to 20 degrees in the mountains, and we may see a few snowflakes this afternoon. A chance of snow and sustained southwest wind will continue through tonight. Light snow will develop tomorrow ahead of a weak frontal passage tomorrow night, with 3 to 6 inches forecast to accumulate by Friday morning. A somewhat moist northwest flow will keep a threat of snow heading into the weekend with more accumulating snow likely during the Sunday Monday time-frame.....

You can view a photo summary of last year's avalanche activity in the Logan Area HERE

I will be update this advisory in the mornings on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and on other days if backcountry avalanche conditions warrant...

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.