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 still a level 3 or Considerable danger, and dangerous triggered persistent slab avalanches are still probable on steep north facing slopes at upper elevations. A level 2 or Moderate danger and heightened avalanche conditions can be found on many other upper and mid elevation slopes, with triggered wind slabs and persistent slabs possible on steep drifted or shallow rocky slopes...The danger of going for a ride in an avalanche is magnified by the shallowly buried and exposed rocks you could be swept over. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding, and conservative decision making will be crucial in the backcountry today, especially at upper elevations.... |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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You can find pretty good powder riding conditions if you stick to upper elevation roadways and smooth meadows. The unconsolidated snowpack above 8000' in elevation ranges from a bit under 3' to around 4 feet deep.. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 28 degrees this morning with 33 inches of total snow on the ground and about an inch of accumulation yesterday... It's 22 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station with a 10 mph southwest wind this morning. Southwest winds picked up yesterday afternoon, drifting a fair amount of snow in exposed terrain, and they sustained moderate strength overnight.... The snow berm, which prevents driving, is now in place at the bottom of Tony Grove Road. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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We received reports of two close calls yesterday in the Wasatch Range above Salt Lake City, with people being caught and carried by dangerous avalanches.... Both were in steep rocky north facing terrain... Luckily, only minor injuries were reported...
Locally,yesterday I noticed evidence of a couple natural avalanches that occurred during Friday's productive storm in the Wellsvilles and in the Tony Grove Area, but poor visibility obscured views of much suspect terrain.. I triggered one large booming collapse in the flats south of White Pine Knob. No triggered avalanches have been reported in the Logan Area... |
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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Upper elevation shady slopes held several inches of October snow that became hardened by the melt-freeze process... A few inches of light snow fell at the end of October and the beginning of November and cold temperatures subjected this light density layer to an extreme temperature gradient, causing the development of faceted or sugary snow and a persistent weak layer... Avalanches failing on this layer could now be 2 to 4 feet deep and pack a dangerous punch.
Pay attention to obvious signs of instability like collapsing and cracking, and avoid and stay out from under steep drifted slopes... Avalanches could still be triggered remotely from a distance or worse, from below..... |
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THREAT #2 |
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| WHERE |
PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
24
hours.
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After sustained southwest wind yesterday afternoon and overnight, you'll likely find fresh wind slabs in deposition zones like the lee sides of ridges and sub-ridges, in gullies or scoops, near rock outcroppings, and under cliff bands... Avoid smooth rounded or chalky looking or hollow sounding drifts on steep slopes... In some steep upper elevation terrain a wind slab avalanche overrunning a slope with poor snow structure could produce a much more dangerous and deeper avalanche... |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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It will be cloudy in the mountains today, with a continuing southwesterly breeze and an inch or two of snow possible. High temperatures today will be in the mid to upper twenties. A high pressure system will set up over the area for the middle of the week, with warmer mountain temperatures in the mid thirties. The next storm is showing signs of possibly splitting, but will impact the region on around Thanksgiving Day.... |
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Please join the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan for our annual "Pray for Snow" Fundraiser and Party on Wednesday November 30th at the Italian Place in downtown Logan. The event will feature a silent auction, raffle, great food, music, and a special presentation by Bruce Tremper, the Director of the Utah Avalanche Center.Please call 757-2794 for more info.
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 435-757-7578 or 801-524-5304 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.
I will update this advisory by around 7:30 in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.....
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. |
