Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Monday - March 14, 2016 - 7:17am
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CONSIDERABLE (level 3): Heightened wind slab conditions already exist in drifted upper elevation terrain this morning, and continuing heavy snowfall and strong westerly winds will cause the avalanche danger to rise during the day. Avalanches involving storm snow will become more likely, and conditions could become rather dangerous at upper elevations by afternoon. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully and avoid drifted slopes at upper elevations.




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current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 30 degrees ​and 6 new inches of snow overnight. There's 75 inches of total snow containing 94% of average water for the date. I'm reading 25 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, with southwest winds currently averaging around 30 mph and gusting well into the 50s. The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the mountains of Northern Utah, with significant accumulation and continuing strong and gusty westerly wind expected.

recent activity
  • A couple different parties of riders in the Franklin Basin Area triggered several good sized but apparently manageable loose wet avalanches entraining the new snow at upper elevations Thursday, and some daytime natural and triggered wet activity continued across the zone at upper elevations through the weekend due to exceptionally warm mountain temperatures.


On Saturday (3-12-16) around noon, I saw a recent loose wet avalanche and stopped to gather the riders in our level 1 class. As several of us waited for the rest to join we watched as a second wet avalanche occurred right next to the first one.

***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

Strong southwest wind during periods of heavy snowfall overnight drifted snow into upper elevation starting zones and substantial drifting will continue throughout the day. Heightened and wind slab avalanche conditions already exist this morning in drifted upper elevation terrain, and the danger will increase and become more widespread as the storm continues in the mountains.

  • 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, especially during the heat of the day.
  • Avoid drifts and developing wind slabs 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

In some areas the new snow may not bond very well with yesterday's snow surface and soft slab avalanches involving the new snow are possible. Loose avalanches are also possible, and if the sun pops out for a bit and moistens the fresh snow, loose wet avalanches will entrain the sticky fresh snow and could become fairly large.

weather

Today: Snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature rising to near 29 by 8am, then falling to around 23 during the remainder of the day. Windy, with a west wind around 33 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 16. Wind chill values as low as zero. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 18 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tuesday: Snow showers. High near 23. Wind chill values as low as -2. Breezy, with a west wind 22 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

general announcements

The National Avalanche Center recently completed an animated tutorial on the North American Avalanche Danger Scale. 

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 avalance 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.