Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Sunday - February 28, 2016 - 7:00am
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MODERATE (level 2): The snow is mostly stable in the backcountry, but areas with heightened wind slab avalanche conditions exist in some drifted terrain. Use normal caution, and evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially on steep wind drifted slopes at upper elevations.




current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 24 degrees this morning, and there's an inch of new snow, with 72 inches of total snow now containing 95% of average water for the date. It's 19 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, showing 15 mph northwest winds. We've found good snow stability and a low avalanche danger this week, but drifting from yesterday's wind created pockets with heightened danger of wind slab avalanches at upper elevations in areas with soft transportable surface snow.

recent activity
  • Observers report a few natural loose wet avalanches, which occurred midday Friday (2-26-16) on east facing sunny slopes.
  • Natural dry sluffs and minor soft wind slab avalanches have been fairly common at upper elevations this week, and on Friday, two separate parties each reported triggering a handful of apparently easily managed small soft slabs in very steep north facing terrain.
  • 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 the remaining low snow.​


A natural loose wet avalanche occurred midday Friday (2-26-16) on a steep east facing slope in Steam Mill Canyon.

***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

Heightened wind slab avalanche conditions exist on some steep upper elevation slopes.

  • Watch for and avoid 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.
  • Hard wind slabs can be traps and sometimes allow people to get well out on them before releasing.
  • Beware large overhanging ridge-top cornices, which could break further back than you expect and might trigger avalanches on drifted slopes below.
  • 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)

Observers triggered a handful of small soft wind slabs in the Franklin Basin Area Friday. (Flygare 2-26-16)

weather

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. West wind 8 to 14 mph.
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind 11 to 21 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

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.