SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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Thanks to all who attended, donated, and helped to put on our annual fundraiser party Wednesday night. It was a big success thanks to you! |
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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 2 or Moderate danger, and heightened avalanche conditions exist at upper elevations and on drifted slopes in the backcountry. I've included a few pockets of a higher level 3 or Considerable danger for drifted slopes where yesterday's somewhat unusual easterly winds deposited fresh and stiff wind slabs on weak and sugary preexisting surface snow. Heightened avalanche conditions also remain on some steep northerly facing slopes at upper elevations where you might trigger very dangerous persistent slab avalanches failing on weak basal snow near the ground. Avoid drifted rocky areas with generally shallower snow cover. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially in drifted upper elevation terrain.... |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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Yesterday's East winds surely did a number on upper elevation slopes, which until then were in pretty good condition... Look for the softer, less wind-wrecked snow in sheltered terrain today... Expect to find significant scoured-off areas near exposed ridges, with hard wind deposited snow on the lee (normally windward) sides... It's still a bit boney for backcountry riding, but at least you can see most of the obstacles, since most of Wednesday's fresh snow was probably blown into the trees...
The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reported 4 new inches from Wednesday, containing 2/10ths of an inch of water. It's 20 degrees this morning, and there is 31 inches of total snow on the ground.. It's 23 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and the winds subsided overnight, with a fairly light north wind this morning. Yesterday, the station recorded windspeeds averaging over 50 mph for a couple hours midday from the east and east-northeast, with a gust of 76 mph |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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No new avalanches were reported recently in the Logan Area... |
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
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Over the next
12 hours.
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Watch for stiff flying saucer-like wind slabs in exposed terrain, as strong easterly winds yesterday scoured off the fresh and soft snow from east and northeast facing slopes and deposited it on the somewhat unusual west facing lee slopes. You are likely to find fresh stiff wind slabs in unusual or unexpected places... Be especially aware of slopes that were cross-loaded (or vertically drifted) by yesterday's tempest. On some slopes, slabs probably built on weak sugary snow that was previously on or near the snow surface and preserved by a thin sun-crust or a few inches of fresh snow on Wednesday. You might find sensitive or stubborn hard 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... Hard slabs have a nasty and tricky tendency to let you get well out on them before releasing...As usual, you should avoid smooth rounded, chalky looking or hollow sounding drifts on steep slopes... |
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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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There are still slopes with suspect snow structure, and very dangerous persistent hard slabs might still be triggered on some steep north facing slopes at upper elevations, especially in areas with newly deposited wind drifted snow. Be especially wary in rocky or shallow areas that held October snow before the big mid November storms. A persistent hard slab avalanche might be triggered from an area where the slab is thinner and more reactive to your weight. The consequence of being caught in an early season avalanche is greatly increased by the shallowly buried and exposed rocks you could be raked over... |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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A strong cold front will rapidly move through our area today, and we'll see a little more snow, with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation forecast for tonight. Cold air behind the front promises to keep things chilly for the weekend... Expect single digit temperatures tonight in the mountains, and despite mostly sunny conditions tomorrow temperatures will remain sub-twenty.... Pretty cold again tomorrow night with low single digit temperatures again and wind chill forecast to be around -12 degrees.... Despite a few chances for a little snow in the coming week, nothing significant appears likely in the foreseeable future..... |
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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. |
