Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Friday - February 26, 2016 - 6:59am
bottom line

LOW (level 1): The snow stability is good on most slopes in the Logan Zone, and avalanches are unlikely in the backcountry. Solar heating and warm daytime temperatures may cause heightened wet avalanche conditions to develop on steep sunny slopes with saturated melt-softened snow. Use normal caution.




current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 31 degrees and there's 74 inches of total snow, now containing 96% of average water for the date. It's 26 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, and winds from the west-northwest, with average wind speeds in the mid teens this morning. Snow stability is good in the backcountry, and the overall danger is low. Avalanches are unlikely, which actually means they are still possible. So far, this week's activity has all been small and manageable, with triggered and natural loose dry sluffs and minor soft wind slabs fairly common in the last several days on steep upper elevation slopes facing the northwest through east. Daytime temperatures will be warmer today than they've been all week, and heightened wet avalanche conditions may develop on some sunny slopes with saturated snow.

recent activity

Observers report and we've noticed natural and triggered dry sluffs and minor soft wind slab avalanches at upper elevations in the last several days. These have all been fairly small and any triggered activity apparently easily managed.

Rain and persistent warmth last week caused many natural large loose wet avalanches at lower elevations, but several nights with much colder temperatures helped to solidify and stabalize the remaining low snow.


***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

Low danger does not mean No danger, and unlikely implies that avalanches are still possible. There are several types of avalanche problems you may run into today. Most of these are of the manageable variety and probably do not pose much threat, but "use normal caution" suggests that you still evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, carry and know how to use all the proper avalanche rescue equipment, and continue to practice wise backcountry travel protocols.

  • Pockets of heightened danger for loose dry sluffs and wind slabs exist on some steep slopes facing the north half of the compass and at upper elevations.
  • Watch for and avoid fresh or recent drifts on the lee sides of ridges, cross-loaded along sub-ridges, and in and around terrain features like rock outcroppings, gullies, scoops, trees, and saddles.
  • Beware the large, growing, and often overhanging ridge-top cornices, which could break further back than you expect and might trigger wind slab avalanches on drifted slopes below.
  • Solar warming could cause a midday danger of shallow loose wet avalanches entaining soft and saturated surface snow on sunny slopes.
  • There still may be a few rogue slopes in outlying or extreme areas out there with poor snow structure where you might trigger a dangerous avalanche. Be cautious in previously drifted areas where the snowpack is shallow or thin and the basal snow is weak and rotten (snow crystals are loose and faceted)

Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

Daytime temperatures will be much warmer than in the past several days, and heightened wet avalanche conditions may develop on sunny slopes as the wet surface snow softens. Avoid midday or afternoon travel on or below steep sunny slopes with warmth softened saturated snow. Roller balls and natural surface sluffing are red flags to wet avalanche instability...

weather

It'll be sunny in the mountains today, with 8500' high temperatures around 45 degrees and fairly light west winds. It'll be partly cloudy tonight with a low temperature around 30 degrees and enhanced southwest winds. Snow showers are likely tomorrow afternoon, but not much in the way of accumulation is expected. High temperatures of around 42 degrees expected, and breezy with northwest winds gusting into the mid thirties. Snow showers will continue Saturday night, but it'll be nice and mostly sunny again on Sunday.

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. 

We'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. 


 

Backcountry Responsibility Objective from Trent Meisenheimer on Vimeo.