Avalanche Advisory
| Advisory: Logan Area Mountains | Issued by Toby Weed for February 23, 2013 - 6:16am |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
5,000-7,000 ft.
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bottom line Dangerous avalanche conditions are developing in the backcountry today. Heavy snowfall and strong southwest winds will cause a CONSIDERABLE (level 3) danger, and triggered wind slab avalanches are likely on drifted mid and upper elevation slopes. Sensitive soft slabs and sluffs involving the storm snow are also likely in steep terrain, and natural avalanches are possible, most likely during periods of very heavy snowfall. Dangerous persistent slab avalanches stepping down to weak January snow are possible on isolated or outlying slopes with poor snow structure and recent accumulations of drifted snow. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision making will be essential in the backcountry today...
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special announcement It'll be a good weekend to ride the lifts at Beaver Mountain and enjoy the fresh powder. Go to http://www.backcountry.com/utah-avalanche-center to get tickets for Beaver Mountain. You won't save a ton of money, but all proceeds from sales of these tickets will benefit the Utah Avalanche Center, and It's super easy to do. |
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current conditions The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 8 inches of accumulation in the last 24 hours, containing a half of an inch of water. It's 17 degrees, and there is 64 inches of total snow containing 63% of average water content for the date. It's 12 degrees at the CSI Logan Peak weather station, and there is a southwest wind, with wind speeds averaging in the mid twenties and gusting into the 40s currently. Expect stormy conditions in the mountains with periods of heavy snow and drifting from strong southwest and west winds. |
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recent activity No avalanches were reported this week in the Logan Area Mountains... Here's a link to our updated Avalanche List.
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Avalanche Problem 1over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
5,000-7,000 ft.
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description
Expect to find fresh wind slabs in upper and mid elevation terrain exposed to drifting from overnight and ongoing southwest winds. In some areas, wind slabs are building up on weak sugary snow that was on or near the snow surface in early February. Avoid stiffer wind deposited snow on steep slopes, and watch for potential wind slabs in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, and cliff bands. Be cautious traveling along the high ridges, since overhanging cornices might break further back than expected, and cornice falls could trigger wind slab avalanches on slopes below.
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Avalanche Problem 2over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
5,000-7,000 ft.
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description
Mostly manageable soft slabs and loose sluffs involving storm snow are likely in steep terrain today, with natural activity possible and most likely during periods of intense or heavy snowfall. Avoid potential terrain traps and stay out from under steep slopes and obvious or historic avalanche paths, especially while it's dumping (or heavy snowfall is occurring)
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Avalanche Problem 3over the next 24 hours
| type | aspect/elevation | characteristics |
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Above 8,500 ft.
7,000-8,500 ft.
5,000-7,000 ft.
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description
Steep, recently drifted, rocky, outlying upper and mid elevation slopes with generally shallow and weak snow cover and recent wind loads are the most suspect. Persistent slab avalanches might fail 2 to 3 feet deep on weak sugary faceted snow. Although the chances are slim, you might trigger dangerous persistent slab avalanches in some areas remotely, from a distance or worse, from below. As weight from new snow builds up over the weekend, the currently dormant faceted snow may reawaken, and the danger of persistent slab avalanches will rise. Whumpfing and deep cracking are red flags indicating potential persistent slab instability. |
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weather The National Weather service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for much of northern Utah. Expect periods of heavy snowfall and strong southwest winds today, with 7 to 11 inches of accumulation forecast and 9000' high temperatures in the mid twenties. Snow should taper off in the Logan Area mountains tonight, with 1 to 3 inches forecast. Snow showers are possible tomorrow, but we'll see clearing and maybe a bit of sun in the afternoon. Expect mountain temperatures to remain below 20 degrees and a breeze from the northwest. Another not quite as strong storm is likely on around Monday night and Tuesday before more stable high pressure conditions develop again... Check out the new Logan Mountain Weather page...
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| general annoucements For a printer friendly version of this advisory click HERE Remember your information from the backcountry can save lives. If you see or trigger an avalanche, or see anything else we should know about, please send us your snow and avalanche observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or email by clicking HERE. In the Logan Area you can contact Toby Weed directly at 435-757-7578. I will update this advisory on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by around 7:30... This advisory is produced by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist. |