Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Monday - December 7, 2015 - 7:10am
bottom line

LOW (level 1): Although rather unlikely, wind slab avalanches are possible in some drifted upper elevation terrain, and you might trigger loose avalanches involving very weak faceted snow on steep shady slopes. Avalanches could release to the ground on weak sugary snow, and it would be quite dangerous to get caught in even a small avalanche due to extremely shallow snow cover.




current conditions

At least we're not stuck with high pressure conditions, and it still looks like we'll see some snow later in the week. Expect cloudy and breezy conditions in the mountains for the next few days, with chances for a little snow as storms graze by to our north. Southwest winds sustained wind speeds in the upper twenties overnight and gusted into the 40s at the CSI Logan Peak weather station, and it's currently 26 degrees at 9700'. It's 33 degrees at the 8400' Tony Grove SNOTEL. The station reports an inch of accumulation overnight and there's 19 inches of total snow on the ground containing 59% of average water content for the date. With the widespread thin and very weak snow cover you'll probably want to continue to stick to the roads, meadows, and smooth low angled terrain.



Loose faceted snow crystals plague the shallow snowpack in the Logan Zone and across Utah. (Pagnucco 12-4-2015)


Words of warning: Very shallow, early season conditions exist, and you are still likely to hit rocks or woody debris in most areas. The Tony Grove Road is not maintained in the winter for wheeled vehicles, and road conditions are icy, snowy, drifted-in and treacherous, so come prepared. The Tony Grove Area is a shared use area and very popular in the early season, so please watch your speed, use patience, and be respectful of other users. For easier access, Beaver Mt. allows uphill travel and appreciates early season users packing down the weak snow. Remember while the lifts are closed, the area is considered backcountry .


It's time to dust off and check the condition of your avalanche rescue equipment. Review and practice Companion Avalanche Rescue with our video..........HERE****


recent activity

No avalanches were reported locally since November 20, when we picked up a foot of heavy snow containing 2.5 inches of water and several natural avalanches occurred, as well as one above the Tony Grove Campground, remote triggered by a skier which sympathetically released an adjacent pocket.


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

There is not much transportable snow for the sustained winds to drift, but you'll find pockets where stiff wind slabs built up on suspect weak faceted snow, mostly at upper elevations. Avalanches are unlikely given the very shallow snow cover, but you could trigger wind slab avalanches in some areas, and hard wind slabs have a nasty tendency to sometimes allow you to get out on them before releasing.

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

Loose sluffs involving very weak sugary or faceted snow are possible in steep terrain. The snow is so weak, especially on shady slopes, that facet sluffs entraining all the snow to the ground are possible. Loose avalanches may initiate from a point release or could be caused by a smaller wind slab release, gouging the loose snow in descent.

I could see evidence of some recent loose facet sluff activity in the Steep Hollow Area. (12-3-2015)

weather

A series of weak weather disturbances will graze northern Utah in the next couple days, bringing breezy and cloudy conditions and a few chances for a little snow. A stronger storm system is setting up for later in the week, with significant accumulations possible. Expect to find breezy and mild weather in the mountains today with 8500' high temperatures around 38 degrees and sustained westerly winds. There's a good chance for an inch or two of snow tonight, with moderate sustained west winds, and temperatures are expected to remain fairly mild. The weather for tomorrow looks similar to today's, cloudy, a chance for some snow, high temperatures pushing 40 degrees, and moderate sustained westerly wind.

general announcements

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 update this advisory throughout the season 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.