Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Friday - January 22, 2016 - 6:38am
bottom line

CONSIDERABLE (Level 3): Dangerous avalanche conditions still exist on many slopes, and careful snowpack evaluation, cautious routefinding, and conservative decision-making will be essential in the backcountry today. Large and destructive triggered avalanches remain likely on recently drifted slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. Avalanches could be triggered remotely, from a distance or even below!




current conditions

The temperature is a toasty 30 degrees this morning at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel. There's 66 inches of total snow, containing 102% of average water content for the date. The 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station reports 25 degrees and an increase in south wind overnight, currently averaging about 27 mph. I found pretty nice deep medium density new snow yesterday, and the snow was fairly supportable. I was only sinking into the surface a couple inches with skis on, but up to my thighs with only boots...

A large sled triggered avalanche from Tuesday in Christmas Tree Bowl just north of Naomi Peak in Bullen Basin. The avalanche was triggered from very low on the slope. (J. Lundahl 1-19-2016)
recent activity
  • We sadly report our first avalanche fatality from yesterday in the Wasatch Mountains just east of Salt Lake City. Our preliminary report is..... HERE
  • We could see debris piles from across Cache Valley on Maple Bench and in other large avalanche paths on the east side of the Wellsville Range from large and long running natural avalanches that probably occurred early Wednesday morning.
  • Several large sled triggered avalanches were reported from Tuesday in the White Pine and Steam Mill Canyons. These were triggered from low on the slopes on east and south facing terrain. There was also a large remote skier triggered avalanche on Tuesday just north of Tony Grove Lake. A Face Book video from the large avalanche in Christmas Tree Bowl is .....HERE
  • At least one unintentional triggered avalanche occurred Sunday in backcountry terrain accessed from Beaver Mt.
  • A snowboard rider triggered a large avalanche on White Pine Knob in Bunch Grass Canyon on Saturday, 1-16-2016 report...... HERE

***To view our updated list of backcountry observations and avalanche activity from around Utah, go to our observations page

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

Last week, we found widespread loose and very weak snow on the surface, and now a slab layer consisting of drifted new snow has accumulated on it. Triggered persistent slab avalanches are likely in some areas today, and last week's weak surface snow is now a buried persistent weak layer that could stay reactive for several days at least. Avalanches are possible on steep slopes with significant recent accumulations even in sheltered terrain and at lower elevations. In some areas, the faceted snow in the basal layers of the snowpack appear have become reactivated by the recently added weight of drifted new snow. Dangerous and destructive avalanches involving old snow and failing on sugary faceted snow or depth hoar are possible today, especially in areas with shallow snow cover and poor snow structure. Natural avalanches are possible with warming, periods of strong sun, and perhaps a bit of greenhousing today.

***Pay close attention to signs of unstable snow like recent avalanches, whumpfing, and shooting cracks, and be willing to reevaluate your plans. In these conditions you could trigger avalanches remotely, from a distance or worse, from below!
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

Avoid recent drifts and/or stiffer wind slabs near ridge tops and in and around terrain features like gullies, sub-ridges, scoops, and rock outcroppings.

Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Warming snow today could cause a problem with wet activity. Sluffs or roller ball activity might be visible signs of this instability, but if the snow you're in gets saturated due to warmth, you'll want to move off and out from under steep slopes. Some natural wet activity is possible at lower elevations.
weather

It'll be partly mostly sunny in the mountains with a high temperature at 8500' pushing 40 degrees and a moderate south wind. Expect mostly cloudy conditions tonight, with a low around 22 degrees and moderate southwest wind. The next Pacific storm will move into the region tomorrow afternoon and then exits Sunday afternoon, initially with southwest winds. 5 to 9 inches of accumulation is possible this weekend.
general announcements

The CROWBAR backcountry ski race will be Saturday January 30. More info at http://CrowbarSkiRace.org.

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.