AVALANCHE WARNING »
Dangerous avalanche conditions are occuring or are imminent.
Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
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Notice: AN AVALANCHE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS OF UTAH. TWO TO FOUR FEET OF STORM SNOW HAS LED TO DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS. THOSE WITHOUT AVALANCHE SKILL AND TRAINING SHOULD AVOID BEING ON OR BENEATH STEEP MOUNTAIN SLOPES. |
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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 level 3 or Considerable danger in the backcountry, and dangerous avalanche conditions exist on upper and mid elevation slopes, especially those facing the northern quadrant of the compass. Dangerous triggered persistent slab avalanches 2 or 3 feet deep are likely on slopes approaching or steeper than about 35 degrees. Avalanches could be triggered remotely or from a distance, so you should not venture onto or below steep slopes. Storm snow, cornice fall and wind slab avalanches involving the new snow are also likely in many areas. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding, and conservative decision making are essential today. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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The mountains in the Logan Zone picked up a good amount of snow and wind over the weekend, and dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Heavy snowfall and sustained south and west winds overloaded buried persistent weak layers, and you are likely to trigger avalanches if you venture on steep slopes in the backcountry today.... The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 18+ inches of settled new snow from the weekend storm, containing 2.2 inches of water. It's cooled down to 13 degrees this morning, and there is 116 inches of total snow on the ground containing 144% of average water for the date. The Snotel site on Ben Lomond reports 3.8 inches of water from the storm.. I'm reading 7 degrees at the Campbell Scientific Logan Peak weather station at 9700', and the wind sensor appears rimed again. The Hwy 89 Logan Summit station shows moderate northwest winds this morning. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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Numerous natural and triggered avalanches occurred yesterday across northern Utah, with some dropping down into lower elevations...... See our avalanche list HERE
The local action was south of Logan Canyon on Saturday, and two parties report triggering dangerous avalanches failing and running on buried persistent weak layers. One party remote triggered large cornice falls and an impressive and destructive 2 to 4 foot deep hard slab at around 9000' off the north side of the Millville Peak-Long Mountain ridgeline. Another party of three triggered three separate 1 to 2 foot deep soft slabs under the cliffs in Spring Hollow on a north facing slope at around 8100'. In this case, one of the avalanches caught and carried two skiers around 500 vertical feet, burying one up to his neck and immobilizing him in concrete-like debris... Luckily, everything turned out alright and they recovered most of their lost equipment with a bit of effort.
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
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TREND |
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Over the next
12 hours.
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The culprit buried weak layer of highest concern exists on the shady half of the compass, dates back to the end of January, and was only shallowly buried before Thursday night's storm, not far above the very solid MLK ice-crust.... It is made up of faceted snow, graupel and in some cases feathery surface hoar. Saturday, the drifted fresh snow contained enough weight and was cohesive enough to activate this persistent weak layer in north facing terrain in the vicinity of Logan Peak... The copious new snow across the region will likely cause the danger of persistent slabs to be much more widespread. There is also weak sugary snow in most areas lurking under the prominent, and in many cases deteriorating, mid-January crust, and dangerous deep hard slab avalanches are possible in some areas. You could trigger persistent slab avalanches on slopes approaching or steeper than about 35 degrees, and you might trigger this dangerous type of avalanche remotely or from a distance, and hopefully not from below.... |
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THREAT #2 |
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PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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Triggered avalanches involving just the new snow are probable today, and they could be fairly large. Be cautious along major ridge-lines, and avoid the colossal overhanging cornices, which could break under your weight much further back than you expect.... Cornice chunks falling on steep drifted slopes below could trigger wind slab or persistent slab avalanches.. Triggered wind slab avalanches and are likely on steep recently drifted slopes. Avoid recent wind drifts on steep slopes off the lee sides of ridges and sub-ridges, under cliff bands, around rock outcroppings, along gully walls, or in scoops or depressions. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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Expect mostly cloudy skies, with temperatures in the mid teens, and a moderate southwest wind. We can give the weekend's fresh snow a little time to settle since it doesn't look like we'll see a whole lot more in the near future. We could see periods with a little snow under a split pattern in the next week, with a slightly better chance for accumulating snow coming around Thursday from the northern branch of the jet stream. |
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Paige is offering a Woman's Avalanche Clinic in the field next weekend on Saturday, February 26 at 9:00. Call 435-757-2794 for more details.
The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center is offering an Advanced Avalanche Skills Workshop, with a classroom session in the evening of March 3 and a field session on Saturday, March 5. You need to register in advance with the USU Outdoor Recreation Program.......
You can view a photo summary of last year's avalanche activity in the Logan Area HERE
Join the friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan on facebook. Click HERE
I will update this advisory in the mornings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and on other days if backcountry avalanche conditions warrant...
You have the opportunity to participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting avalanche and snow observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or Toby at 435-757-7578, or email by clicking HERE
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. |
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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. |
