Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Wednesday - March 9, 2016 - 6:55am
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1000 Update:

MODERATE (level 2): More snow than expected this morning is creating an increase in backcountry avalanche danger. Heightened storm related avalanche conditions probably exist in some drifted upper and mid-elevation terrain. You could trigger storm snow, cornice fall, and/or wind slab avalanches, and loose wet activity involving the fresh is likely with solar warming later in the day.




current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 26 degrees this morning and 4 inches of new snow overnight. There's 73 inches of total snow containing 94% of average water for the date. It's 20 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station with west winds currently averaging 16 mph. We've been finding stable snow and pretty good riding conditions this week with shallow powder holding out on north facing slopes, smooth "corn snow" on south facing slopes, and a variety of breakable crusts and slushy surface snow in between.
recent activity
  • A party of riders triggered a fairly large loose wet avalanche in a steep north facing chute in the Tony Grove Area Sunday (3-6-2016). The avalanche flushed all the heavy new snow out of the upper part of the gully and gouged out old snow down to rocks lower down, leaving an impressive pile of debris in the apron.

  • Yesterday we noticed a fair amount of recent wet activity on north and northeast facing mid elevation slopes in the Wood Camp Area. These likely occurred over the weekend with record warm temperatures on Saturday and rain and wind on Sunday.

  • This one looks to have been initiated by either a cornice fall or a shallow wind slab, but it involved wet snow in descent.

***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 cornice fall and wind slab avalanche conditions probably exist today in drifted upper elevation terrain.

  • Beware large overhanging ridge-top cornices, which could break further back than you expect and might trigger avalanches on drifted slopes below. Natural cornice falls are possible in some areas, especially during the heat of the day.
  • You might trigger wind slab avalanches on drifted upper elevation slopes. 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. Cracking is a sign of potential instability.

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

1000 update:

  • More than expected accumulation causing a heightened danger of storm snow related avalanche danger. Triggered soft slab or loose new snow avalanches are possible at upper and mid -elevations.
  • Periods of powerful March sun later today could quickly warm the new snow in sunny terrain, and the fresh snow could become prone to avalanching.

weather

Snow showers may continue in the mountains this morning, with another inch or two of accumulation possible.. Expect 15 to 20 mph west wind on the ridges and a high temperature at 8500' of around 29 degrees. A mild southwest flow will develop later in the week. It'll be mostly cloudy tonight with a chance of a few snow showers, a low temperature around 26 degrees and west southwest winds around 10 mph. We'll see a warm day tomorrow in the mountains with partly sunny skies, moderate southwest winds and high temperatures around 47 degrees. Temperatures may reach 50 degrees at 9000' on Friday under sunny skies. A weakening storm system will cross the area Saturday followed by a much stronger system early next week.
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.