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 drifted upper and mid-elevation slopes... You are likely to trigger significant fresh wind slab avalanches and/or large cornice falls if you travel in steep drifted terrain today. Significant accumulations of fresh snow created heightened avalanche conditions on other steep slopes as well, with triggered storm snow, persistent slab, and deep slab avalanches all possible. If the sun peeks out for even a short time, localized solar warming or green-housing will cause a rapid increase in the danger of loose wet avalanches on slopes with saturated surface snow...Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding, and conservative decision making are essential in avalanche terrain today. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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The Tony Grove Snotel reports 11 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours with 1.2" of water. It's 21 degrees and there is 131 inches of total snow with 141% of average water content for the date. Strong west winds continue this morning, with extensive drifting reported from overnight. Mt. Ogden reports 40 mph average wind speeds overnight and a 70 mph gust yesterday evening. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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Locally, no avalanches have been reported in the last two days. But, riders report a fresh and broad wind slab avalanche off the east ridge of Providence Peak, which occurred midday Saturday. It was reported to be around 18 inches deep and several hundred feet wide. We received reports of a handful of rider triggered wind slabs in the Tony Grove Area on Friday, including a fairly broad soft slab north of Naomi Peak in the Bullen Basin Area. And on Thursday, a rider triggered a couple connected wind slabs west of Tony Grove Lake.... All of these avalanches occurred at upper elevations (above around 9000') and were on drifted slopes facing east, northeast, and north......
.See our avalanche list HERE
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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Avoid fresh wind slabs on steep slopes in lee terrain and deceleration zones or deposition areas... Substantial accumulations overnight and continuing strong west winds created dangerous avalanche conditions in drifted terrain... Triggered wind slab avalanches are likely on steep drifted slopes, especially in upper elevation terrain...
Continue to avoid and stay out from under the huge overhanging cornices on the major ridge lines, which often break further back than expected and could trigger avalanches on steep slopes below. Natural cornice falls are possible today, especially while drifting is in progress... |
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THREAT #2 |
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Over the next
12 hours.
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The significant load of new snow from last night brings with it a host of avalanche threats for today. Avalanches will be most likely during periods of heavy snowfall or rapid loading from drifting. Storm snow avalanches may fail within the new snow or on an old snow/new snow interface and are possible on all steep slopes that received a foot or more of accumulation last night... Persistent slabs including around a foot of old snow and deep slabs failing on reactivated January or February weak layers are both possible on steep slopes on the shady side of the compass.... And, the danger of wet avalanches involving the fresh snow will rapidly rise at all elevations next time the sun peeks out and temperatures warm up. Seasonal solar warming or green-housing could cause a rapid spike in localized mountain temperatures. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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The National Weather Service continued a Winter Storm Warning for our area through this evening. Periods of heavy snowfall and strong winds are expected into this afternoon in the mountains..An additional 3 to 5 inches of accumulation is forecast for today, with high temperatures in the lower 20s and continuing west winds. We'll see a break in the weather tomorrow, with some sunshine. Looks like another storm on Thursday, with several inches more snow in the mountains... |
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
We are offering a free avalanche awareness talk for riders on Thursday, March 24 at 6:00 at Renegade Sports in Nibley. This will be followed by a ride into avalanche terrain (field session) on Saturday, March 26.....
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. |
