Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Friday - April 4, 2014 - 5:47am
bottom line

Heightened avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry, and there's a MODERATE or level 2 danger in some drifted upper elevation terrain. Triggered cornice falls and wind slab avalanches are possible. Wet avalanches will become more likely during the warmth of midday if the fresh snow is warmed and becomes saturated. 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.

current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 112 inches of total snow, with 133% of average water content for the date. It's 17 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and I'm currently reading 15 mph south winds. You'll find nice powder riding across the zone, but also heightened avalanche conditions on some steep slopes with significant deposits of new and drifted snow. Increasing cloud cover and good ventilation should keep a lid on warming today, but seasonal midday warming may create a danger of wet or heat-related avalanches.
recent activity

Observers on Wednesday spotted a small natural wind slab release in the Goalpost area in Upper Dry Canyon. Another party explored the main Wood Camp Area, where a previously unreported huge natural avalanche from the extensive February cycle filled-in the the flats in the giant central run-out zone.

Visit our Backcountry Observations Page for details on the season's activity.
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
  • You could trigger wind slab avalanches in some steep drifted terrain today. Avoid stiffer, recently drifted fresh snow in steep lee terrain and in and around terrain features like gully walls, outcroppings, or under cliffs.
  • 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. It's especially important to stay out from under these guys when they are forming with drifting and during the heat of the day, when some may naturally fail and calve off in large chunks.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 10 hours
description

It's not supposed to get too warm today, but you have to suspect seasonal warming this time of year. Avoid steep slopes with saturated surface snow.
weather

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

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.

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I'll issue weekend and intermittent advisories through April.

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.