SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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Please join us for a special Advanced Avalanche Skills Workshop presented by the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center in Logan this coming weekend.. We'll do an evening classroom session on Thursday January 5 starting at 6:00 downstairs at the Logan Ranger District Offices and a day-long field session on Saturday January 7....For more information and to sign up for the class go..... Here
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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 on previously drifted slopes in the backcountry around Logan. You'll find tricky and dangerous avalanche conditions at upper and mid-elevations, mainly on slopes facing the eastern half of the compass. Human triggered avalanches remain probable on steep previously drifted slopes. Warm conditions will cause a heightened danger of wet avalanches on sunny slopes. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making will be essential in the backcountry today, and you should avoid steep wind exposed slopes.... You'll find safer conditions in sheltered and lower angled terrain, and at lower elevations.... |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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It'll be quite warm, clear and sunny in the mountains today. Unfortunately, snow conditions are crusty, droppy, and generally less than desirable. Very tricky and pretty dangerous avalanche conditions exist in some areas, and the danger will linger for some time due to the persistent nature of the sugary weak layers, now nicely preserved under a shallowly buried creme brulee rime-crust... The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400'reports 34 inches of total snow on the ground containing 60% of average water for the date, and its a balmy 35 degrees. South winds picked up early this morning after a fairly calm night and are now averaging in the upper teens up at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, where it is currently a warm 34 degrees. You sink right through the crust and into deep sugary snow in many areas if you ride off the beaten path, and several sledders I've spoken to recently complain of significant equipment damage after tagging shallowly buried rocks..... |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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Skiers remote triggered a good sized hard slab yesterday afternoon on the east side of White Pine Knob in upper Bunchgrass... The 1'+ deep and around 100' wide persistent slab avalanche on a steep mid-slope roll was triggered from 50-75 feet away and off to the side... A handful of resorts in the Central Wasatch Range also report similar avalanche activity from explosive control work..... |
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
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TREND |
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Over the next
24 hours.
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Very tricky and somewhat spotty avalanche conditions exist. Watch out for older deposits of wind drifted snow on weak sugary facets and/or feathery surface hoar, now capped and preserved by a widespread rime-crust in most areas. Persistent wind slab avalanches could be 1 to 2 feet deep and around 100' wide. Some of these could still be quite sensitive, and you might trigger them remotely, from a distance, or worse, from below. Other stiff slabs are likely to be more stubborn, and could allow you to get out on them before releasing.
*** Avoid stiffer, chalky looking wind deposited snow on the lee sides of ridges and sub-ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, and cliff bands. Wind loading from the end-of-the-year storm occurred low on some lee slopes, so be aware of the potential for mid-slope avalanches. On some slopes, shallow wind slab avalanches might sweep out and entrain significant quantities very weak sugary old snow. Even a fairly small avalanche could be quite dangerous if you are caught and swept over shallowly buried rocks or into trees below.... Pay attention to obvious signs of instability like cracking and collapsing, and as always, be willing to reevaluate and adjust your route. |
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THREAT #2 |
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PROBABILITY |
SIZE |
TREND |
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Over the next
10 hours.
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Mountain temperatures will warm up significantly today, and some slopes may soften to the point of becoming prone to wet avalanches.... If you start sinking into moist saturated snow or initiate sluffs or roller balls you should head for shady cooler terrain or home. The warmth may cause some of the existing hard slabs to soften up, which could make them easier to trigger.... |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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We'll see lots of sunshine and it will be very warm in the mountains today....Expect 8500' high temperatures around 46 degrees and a south breeze.... The benign weather pattern looks like it'll persist through at least the balance of the week, with a slight chance of a little snow coming early next weekend... |
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Please consider a donation to your favorite non-profit –The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. The Utah Avalanche Center depends on contributions from users like you to support our work.....
Please send us your observations from the backcountry especially if you see or trigger an avalanche, but also even if you don't.. go to avalanche and snow observations. You can also call me directly at 435-757-7578 or leave us a message at our office, 801-524-5304.... And, you can always send us a simple email by clicking HERE
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. |
