Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Saturday - March 19, 2016 - 6:02am
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MODERATE (level 2): Heightened wind slab and cornice fall conditions exist, and triggered avalanches are possible in steep drifted terrain. The danger of loose wet avalanches entraining new snow will rise rapidly on sunny slopes as the fresh snow is warmed and it becomes saturated. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, avoid drifted terrain, and stay off of and out from under steep sunny slopes in the heat of the day.
special announcement

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current conditions

The Bear River Range picked up a few feet of fresh powder this week, and we've found very nice deep powder riding conditions. Powerful March sun certainly got to sunny slopes yesterday, but the snow stayed nice and dry on north facing slopes at all elevations. The powder is now settled and the glittery surface re-crystallized and fast. Forecast temperatures will be around 10 degrees warmer today than yesterday, and solar heating with the high March sun angle will dampen the fresh surface snow on sunny slopes creating heightened wet avalanche conditions. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 18 degrees ​this morning and 97 inches of total snow containing 106% of average water for the date. I'm reading 14 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, but the wind sensor is still rimed. Mt Ogden shows northwest winds averaging around 20 mph.


Cornices grew significantly this week with all the new snow and sustained westerly winds. These can fool people by breaking further back than expected, and might trigger avalanches on slopes below. Natural cornice falls are likely with the significant warm-up expected in the mountains this weekend.
recent activity

Local trail heads are overflowing and riders tested numerous steep slopes in the Central Bear River Range in the past couple days, but certainly not without incident.

  • Four riders in a party of five were caught and carried in a sizable wind slab avalanche in White Pine Canyon yesterday (3-18-16). One member of the party was fully buried, the other three partly buried (along with their sleds). Luckily one rider was not on the slope that avalanched and was able to initiate a successful companion rescue. Everyone is okay, with only minor injuries to report and the party was able to excavate their sleds and ride them out. Initial Report and Photos........HERE
  • A local rider caught a heart stopping video of unintentionally triggering a good sized avalanche in upper Steam Mill Canyon yesterday (3-18-16).....Watch it...... HERE
  • On Thursday, the fourth rider to cross a steep drifted mid elevation northeast facing slope in the Franklin Basin Area triggered a 3-foot deep by around 80' wide avalanche. He was caught and carried a short distance and partially buried, but thankfully not injured. Report is HERE
  • I was able to trigger a small wind slab on a very steep test slope in the Hell's Kitchen area Thursday. The slab was only about 15' wide and 14" deep, releasing on an old/new interface, melt-freeze snow from last week.


Four riders in a party of five were caught, with one fully buried, in a sizable wind slab avalanche near White Pine Lake yesterday, (3-18-16)


***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

Sustained westerly wind, sometimes during periods of heavy snowfall during the work week created heightened wind slab and cornice fall conditions in drifted terrain. A few natural avalanches occurred in the Tony Grove Area, and we have reports of a handful of good sized wind slabs triggered by sledders in the past couple days in the Central Bear River Range.

  • Avoid recent drifts and stiffer 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.
  • 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, and may become likely when the sun comes out and mountain temperatures warm up.

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

The powerful March sun will be out in force in the mountains again today, and daytime temperatures will be around 10 degrees warmer than yesterday's. Solar warming will moisten the fresh snow causing it to become sticky. Loose wet avalanches entraining the copious fresh snow are possible and may become likely on sunny slopes. Debris piles could be fairly large especially on sustained steep slopes. Heat related slab avalanches involving the new snow are possible in some steep sunny areas. The danger of wet avalanches is likely to rise and become more widespread with increasing mountain temperatures over the weekend.

weather

High pressure over the region ensures fair and sunny weather in the mountains this weekend. Cooler and wetter weather is expected Monday and through the first part of next week. Expect lots of sun and high temperatures at 9000' around 40 degrees, with a light and calming north wind. Temperatures should drop a few degrees below freezing overnight, with calm winds becoming light and easterly. Expect sunny weather again on Sunday, with high temperatures climbing to around 50 degrees!

general announcements

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

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.