Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Monday - March 9, 2015 - 6:49am
bottom line

LOW (level 1): The snow is stable and avalanches are unlikely on most slopes in the backcountry, but heightened wet avalanche conditions may redevelop in sunny terrain with daytime solar warming, and triggered persistent slab avalanches remain possible on isolated upper elevation slopes.

  • Use normal caution and continue to follow safe travel protocols.
  • Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially in previously drifted upper elevation areas.
  • Stay off and out from under steep sunny slopes with sloppy warmth-moistened surface snow during the heat of midday.

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special announcement

****Special thanks to Buttar's of Tremonton and ArcticCat for hooking us up with the light and powerful M8000, which is featured in UAC Logan's Practicing Companion Rescue video........HERE

Paige found nice powder riding conditions on the Cat in Steep Hollow, (3-4-2015)
current conditions

You'll still find nice settled powder riding conditions on upper elevation shady slopes across the zone. The snow is mostly stable, but heightened wet avalanche conditions will probably redevelop in sunny terrain again today. A high pressure system is firmly in place overhead and a significant temperature inversion results, with much warmer air up high. The Tony Grove Snotel reports 69 inches of total snow containing 95% of average water for the date, and it's 30 degrees at 8400'. It's a cool 12 degrees at the UDOT Hwy 89 Logan Summit weather station, with light east winds overnight again.


recent activity

Last week's storm and periods of very heavy snowfall caused widespread natural avalanching during the storm, and riders triggered several small soft slab avalanches involving the fresh snow in the few days following.

An intentionally ski-triggered avalanche from yesterday in the mountains above Bountiful. (3-8-2015). The report is ......HERE

***Visit our Backcountry Observations Page for more local information and from across the state.

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

Triggered persistent slab avalanches 1 to 2 feet deep and running on a thin weak layer made up of small faceted grains are unlikely yet still possible in drifted upper elevation terrain. Avalanches remain possible at upper elevations in outlying areas like the Wellsville Mountain and Mt. Naomi Wildernesses, and in "extreme" or "serious" mountain terrain. Avoid stiffer previously wind-deposited snow on steep slopes and ridge-top cornices which are starting to sag and buckle in the warmth.
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

Sun-warmed and saturated surface snow could become active, with loose avalanches entraining ​moist snow possible on some steep sunny slopes. Avoid midday travel on or below steep sunny slopes, and keep in mind that roller balls and/or observed natural loose avalanches indicate the potential for further avalanching while the snow is still warm and sloppy.

weather

Looks like a ridge of high pressure will continue to dominate the weather pattern for the next couple days, with warmer temperatures and fair weather expected in the mountains. It'll be sunny and mild today, with 8500' high temperatures in the mid forties and a gradually increasing light westerly breeze. It'll be clear tonight with mountain temperatures dipping into the upper twenties. Tomorrow's forecast looks exactly the same, and fair spring-like weather will continue into Wednesday. A trough of low pressure will bring relief and a good chance for some light snowfall Wednesday night through Thursday night, and a couple inches of accumulation is possible at upper elevations. The high pressure system will rebuild, ensuring fair weather in the mountains again for next weekend.

***Check out our one-stop weather page........HERE

general announcements

***Advisories by email for the Logan Zone.  Go here for details.

*** Utah Avalanche Center mobile app 

Discount lift tickets are now available at Backcountry.com.  Thanks to Ski Utah and the Utah Resorts.  All proceeds go towards paying for Utah Avalanche Center avalanche and mountain weather advisories.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI:  Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC.  Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

***Please submit snow and avalanche observations from your ventures in the backcountry HERE. You can call us at 801-524-5304 or email HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram or Tweet us @UAClogan. To report avalanche activity in the Logan Area or to contact the local avalanche forecaster call me, Toby, at 435-757-7578. 

I'll regularly update this advisory on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by about 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.