Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Saturday - February 15, 2014 - 7:25am
bottom line

A HIGH or Level 4 avalanche danger exists on many slopes in the in the backcountry, and there's an EXTREME or Level 5 danger in some drifted upper elevation terrain. Dangerous and destructive avalanches are likely on steep slopes at all elevations and on slopes facing all directions due to continuing mild temperatures, rain, heavy snow, strong southwest wind, and widespread preexisting weak snow. Several large and long-running natural avalanches occurred in the past two days, and more persistent slab, wet, and wind slab avalanches are likely or ongoing today on steep slopes in the Logan Zone. Dangerous persistent slab avalanches could be triggered remotely, from a distance, or the flats below steep slopes. Avoid all travel in avalanche terrain this weekend. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes and obvious or historic avalanche paths.

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avalanche warning

THE AVALANCHE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL MOUNTAINS AND MOUNTAIN VALLEYS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL UTAH. THIS WARNING INCLUDES THE LOGAN...OGDEN...PARK CITY...SALT LAKE...PROVO... MANTI-SKYLINE SOUTH TO I-70...THE WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS...AND THE MOUNTAINS OF EXTREME SOUTHEAST IDAHO.    DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS EXIST ON ALL ASPECTS AND ELEVATIONS.   LARGE DESTRUCTIVE NATURAL AVALANCHES ARE OCCURRING.    BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED. THIS WARNING DOES NOT INCLUDE SKI AREAS OR HIGHWAYS WHERE AVALANCHE CONTROL IS NORMALLY DONE.
current conditions

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry. Several large and long running natural avalanches occurred in the past couple days and more are likely today. The Tony Grove Snotel reports 100 inches of total snow, amazingly now up to 128% of average water content for the date. The station picked up several more inches of heavy snow yesterday containing 1.7 inches of water in the last 24 hours and 3" in the last 48. It's currently too warm, 35 degrees. Southwest winds were quite strong yesterday and overnight, cranking out 30 mph average wind speeds with gusts in the mid 60s at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station. I'm reading 37 degrees and 15 to 30 mph west wind currently at the Hwy 89 Logan summit weather station. Avalanche conditions are unusually bad across the region due to widespread and very weak faceted snow plaguing the basal layers of the snowpack at all elevations and on slopes facing every direction. Backcountry travelers face more dangerous and widespread avalanche conditions than we've seen in years, and we need to be extremely conservative right now.

The Tony Grove Snotel reached 100" of total snow overnight. Here a look at the campground on 2-14-2014. (Flygare)


recent activity
  • Several large and long running natural avalanches occurred in the Logan Zone Thursday, including a huge avalanche in Pine Canyon in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness and a scary wet slide above Zanavoo in Lower Logan Canyon. We noticed more fresh wet slab activity visible from Logan Canyon yesterday.
  • On 2-11-2014, a 28-year-old sledder in a party of 5 from the Layton area was buried by a large avalanche and then rapidly recovered by his partners near Millville Peak. Apparently, he was unconscious and unresponsive when recovered by beacon, but spontaneously began to breath when his airway was cleared.​.... see the ACCIDENT REPORT
  • A sledder triggered a wet avalanche in the Providence Quarry......2-13-2014 Video Observation
  • Logan Canyon was hit several times last Sunday morning (2-9-2014) by both wet slab and persistent slab avalanches. report HERE. and a video looking at last weekend's Beaver Canyon Avalanche is HERE ​
  • Large and long-running natural avalanches were widespread in the Logan Area last weekend and in the last few days, occurring at all elevations and on slopes facing every direction.

Large natural avalanche above Zanavoo occurred during the day Thursday. Thankfully, it stopped well above the Logan River. (2-13-2014)

A large natural avalanche in Pine Canyon above the town of Wellsville. (2-13-2014)
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

The preexisting snow is shallow and very weak at all elevations, and dangerous triggered and natural persistent slab avalanches failing on buried faceted weak layers are likely or occurring today on many steep slopes. You could trigger dangerous avalanches remotely, from a distance or even from the flats below steep slopes. Large and long running natural avalanches occurred Thursday and yesterday, and are likely again today, so stay away from and out from under avalanche paths. As demonstrated in the past couple days, natural persistent slab avalanches could entrain significant wet snow in descent and run down to lower elevations as destructive wet avalanches.

Large and long running natural avalanche in Pine Canyon in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness from 2-13-2014
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

Rain and warming temperatures created a HIGH danger of wet avalanches at lower and mid elevations. Triggered and natural wet slabs and loose moist sluffs entraining significant amounts of fresh snow are likely again today in steep lower and mid elevation terrain. Avoid travel above lower elevation terrain traps and stay off of and out from under steep slopes with saturated snow.

Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Fresh drifts formed yesterday and overnight in exposed upper elevation terrain. Triggered and natural wind slab avalanches are likely in steep terrain again today, and a smaller avalanche overrunning a slope with poor snow structure could cause a step-down into weak old snow and result in a much larger and more dangerous avalanche.

weather

Expect dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains again today as the moist and mild Pineapple Express resumes, with snow and rain showers expected in the mountains this morning but little accumulation. It'll be breezy and warm, with sustained west winds becoming more southwest this evening. Temperatures are expected to be up around 45 degrees at 8500' today. Southwest winds will be sustained and fairly strong overnight, with low temperatures hovering a bit above freezing. Snow is likely again tomorrow, with 3 to 7 inches forecast, and dropping temperatures, with 8500' temperatures dropping to around 26 degrees by afternoon. Another storm and a good chance of significant snow will arrive late Tuesday

Check out our one-stop weather page........HERE
general announcements

This years CROWBAR Backcountry Ski Race will be held on February 15 at the Sink Hollow Trailhead.  The race is officially sanctioned by the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association, and will be held entirely outside of ski resort boundaries.

For a safer powder option; Discount lift tickets are available at Backcountry.com - Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts, including Beaver Mountain. All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

Utah Avalanche Center mobile app - Get your advisory on your iPhone along with great navigation and rescue tools.

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please participate in the creation of our own community avalanche advisory by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304 or 800-662-4140, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

Follow us at UAClogan on Twitter 

I'll issue these advisories on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. 

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.