Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Thursday - March 31, 2016 - 7:06am
bottom line

MODERATE (level 2): Triggered soft slabs, wind slabs, and entraining sluffs and are possible in steep upper elevation terrain today, and natural wet activity involving moist fresh storm snow from earlier in the week is possible with midday warmth or if the sun pops out for a while. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially at upper elevations and avoid slopes with saturated fresh snow.




current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 29 degrees and a storm total yesterday of around 19 inches of new snow with with 1.8" inches of water. There's 101 inches of total snow containing 108% of average water for the date. I'm reading 22 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, with northwest wind averaging 14 mph currently.

recent activity
  • Riders triggered several shallow and manageable soft slab avalanches and observed some natural wet activity on steep slopes in the Tony Grove Area yesterday. More natural wet sluffing entraining the new snow, (visible from Cache Valley,) occurred yesterday afternoon in sunny terrain.
  • It was a very active day Tuesday in the Ogden and Salt Lake Mountains, with numerous triggered soft storm and wind slabs reported from the ski resorts and backcountry.

​***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 storm snow avalanche issues exist at upper elevations, and human triggered soft slabs remain possible on slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. This type of new snow instability usually doesn't last long, and a good deal of settlement has already occurred within the new snow. Heat related soft slabs and/or loose sluffs entraining significant piles of initially moistened storm snow will become likely when the fresh snow is warmed by seasonal heating, especially if the sun pops out later today.


Riders triggered several shallow soft slabs in the Tony Grove Area yesterday. (Flygare 3-30-16)
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

Northwest winds picked up a bit overnight and they might find a bit of snow to drift at upper elevations. Heightened wind slab avalanche conditions exist and human triggered wind slabs are possible today in some drifted upper elevation terrain.

  • Watch for and avoid drifted snow 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 in the snow surface is a sign of potential wind slab instability.
  • Beware large overhanging ridge-top cornices, which could break further back than you expect and might trigger avalanches on drifted slopes below.

Cracking like this is a red flag indicating potential soft slab instability. (3-23-16)
weather

A WEAK WEATHER SYSTEM WILL CROSS THE AREA FROM THE NORTH TODAY. HIGH PRESSURE ALONG THE WEST COAST WILL SHIFT EAST INTO THE GREAT BASIN FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

Today: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. North wind 14 to 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. North wind 10 to 20 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. North northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.

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 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.