Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Monday - March 17, 2014 - 6:54am
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Most slopes are stable, but heightened avalanche conditions exist and may develop further in some areas today. There is a MODERATE or level 2 danger on drifted slopes at upper elevations, with shallow wind slab avalanches and cornice falls possible. Wet avalanches will become increasingly possible in steep mid and lower elevation terrain, and rain or periods of sun with greenhousing could cause the danger to increase and become more widespread. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully.

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special announcement

Sale on all remaining discount lift tickets donated to the Utah Avalanche Center from Beaver Mountain, Wolf Mountain, Sundance, and Brian Head: The few remaining tickets are being blown out with all proceeds used to pay for avalanche advisories and education. Go here to get your tickets.

Snow coverage and conditions are stellar at Beaver Mountain this spring. 3-12-2014
current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports a balmy 39 degrees, 110 inches of total snow, and 134% of average water content for the date. It's 33 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, which recorded steady southwest winds overnight, with average wind speeds around 30 mph, and gusts in the fifties. We found and observers report safe, stable snow, and very nice shallow powder, smooth dust-on-crust, and even nice spring corn riding conditions across the Logan Zone over the weekend.
recent activity

It's been a couple weeks since any avalanches stepping into old snow occurred in the Logan Zone. Shallow wind slabs and cornice falls are fairly frequent during and just after the spring storms, and easily predicted loose wet avalanches have been common with solar heating and seasonal warmth affecting fresh snow.

Visit our Backcountry Observations Page for more details.
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

Wind slab avalanches involving drifted fresh snow up to about a foot deep are possible in wind-exposed upper elevation terrain. These should be of the manageable variety for experienced travelers, but a few might be stiff enough to allow you to get out on the slab before it fails.

  • Watch for and avoid drifted snow in steep lee terrain and in and around terrain features like gully walls, outcroppings, or under cliffs. Although avalanches are generally unlikely, triggered avalanches are still possible, especially in extreme or "Big Mountain" terrain.
  • Avoid and stay out from under large and overhanging cornices along major ridge-lines, which are likely to break further back than you expect and could trigger avalanches on slopes below. These will sag and buckle as they warm up, and could naturally fail during the heat of the day
  • The danger is LOW in most terrain this morning, but we still need to employ good situational awareness and continue to practice safe travel protocols in the backcountry.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Expect mild temperatures today, and mountain weather stations report a poor overnight refreeze. Wet avalanches are generally unlikely but possible where poor snow structure is softened by melt. Mild temperatures are forecast to gradually cool throughout the day, with overnight temperatures dropping into the teens, which will help the situation, but periods of sun and greenhousing this afternoon or rain on the snow up into the mid elevations could cause an increasing danger of wet avalanches in some steep terrain.
weather

A fast moving storm will push a strong cold front through the region today. Snow is likely today in the mountains, with mild temperatures and very strong westerly winds. Expect 1 to 2 inches of accumulation, gradually dropping temperatures and intensifying west winds, with 50 mph average wind speeds and gusts near 80 mph possible this afternoon. Snow showers should diminish, temperatures will drop to around 15 degrees overnight, and northwest winds will continue to be fairly strong. It'll be partly sunny tomorrow, with 8500' high temperatures around 24 degrees and moderate west winds. A dry cold front will move through the region on Thursday, and a return to the more mild westerly flow is expected for the end of the week.

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

Can you change Utah in a day? Utah's non-profit community is a big part of what makes living in Utah great. Join your community in a state-wide day of non-profit appreciation and support with Love Utah Give Utah on Thursday, March 20.  Your donation to the Utah Avalanche Center between now andMarch 20 through this link, large or small, helps pay for avalanche advisories and education and makes the Utah Avalanche Center eligible for challenge grants and special awards provided by local businesses.  In Salt Lake City?  Stop by Squatters downtown on Th 3/20 between 4 and 6 for some free snacks, an opportunity to chat with some of the UAC folks, and make an online donation.  

Campsaver and The Utah Avalanche Center in Logan are teaming up to give away a avalanche rescue kit - beacon, shovel and probe!
That's almost $400 worth of essential backcountry gear!  The more you share and like, the more chances you have of winning. Winner will be drawn at random early next week. Link is HERE

Show Us You Know the Snow: US & Canadian avy groups have a challenge to sidecountry riders: Use your camera to tell a short video story about how your crew gets ready to safely ride beyond the resort boundary. Videos will be posted & promoted by GoPro & other partners. The contest will run till Mar 21. The winner will be determined by a combination of most views & an expert panel. Prizes include: 2 days at Monashee Powder Snowcats, 2 4-day Gold Passes to any US resort, a Backcountry Access Float 22 airbag, gear from Backcountry.com, editing help and support from Sherpas Cinema, & more. Winners will be announced in late March. . Details at knowthesnow.com     Please share this with your friends

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 through the month of March.

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.