Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Friday - March 13, 2015 - 7:00am
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MODERATE (level 2): Warmth and intense solar heating will create heightened wet avalanche conditions today in steep terrain as the saturated surface snow softens, and triggered persistent slab avalanches remain possible on some isolated upper and mid elevation slopes​.

  • Stay off and out from under or depart from steep slopes with sloppy, sticky, or saturated surface snow during the heat of midday.
  • Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially in shallow or rocky mid and upper elevation areas and on slopes with poor snow structure.

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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

With a shallow surface refreeze overnight due to radiation heat loss, the snow is stable on most slopes this morning. But, temperatures will climb into the upper forties at 9000', and solar warming will be intense on some sunny slopes. Heightened avalanche conditions may develop in some areas, with wet avalanches possible on steep slopes with warmth softened saturated snow, and isolated persistent slab avalanches still possible in some upper and mid elevation areas. The Tony Grove Snotel reports another inch of heavy snow overnight and 66 inches of total snow containing 92% of average water for the date. Temperatures did not drop below freezing last night and it's already a toasty 35 degrees at 8400' this morning. It's a bit cooler lower down in Middle Sinks, with 24 degrees posted at the UDOT Hwy 89 Logan Summit weather station, and light easterly winds overnight.
recent activity

No avalanches were reported locally since last weekend, when riders triggered a few small loose wet avalanches and a skier triggered and was probably caught and took a ride in a shallow persistent slab avalanche in the Tony Grove Area.

A ski-triggered avalanche in the Tony Grove/Blind Hollow Saddle from last weekend, (3-10-2015). 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 remain possible in isolated mid and upper elevation terrain. Warmth and resulting creep, glide, and slab softening are conspiring to keep this threat alive. Avalanches are possible at mid and upper elevations on slopes with poor snow structure, especially 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

Triggered and natural wet avalanches are possible in steep terrain where the surface snow becomes soft saturated from today's renewed warmth. Pin-wheels, roller balls, and/or observed natural loose avalanches indicate the potential for triggered wet avalanches while the snow is still warm and sloppy.

weather

It'll be sunny in the mountains today, with moderate east wind and 8500' high temperatures around 47 degrees. Expect mostly clear conditions tonight with east wind veering from the south and low temperatures around 34 degrees. We'll see increasing cloudiness and strengthening southwest winds tomorrow, with high temperatures around 49 degrees. There's a chance of snow and rain showers for the first half of next week, but temperatures will remain unseasonably warm and accumulations look minimal at best.

***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.