Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Monday - November 28, 2016 - 6:01am
bottom line

You'll find dangerous avalanche conditions at upper elevations in the backcountry, and the danger of storm and wind slab avalanches will continue to increase throughout the day with significant accumulations (up to 2 feet) and continuing strong west wind expected.

  • Very shallow early season snow cover exists in the backcountry, and hitting rocks is a serious concern.
  • You don't want to take a ride even in a small avalanche, as you could easily be injured with the shallow snow hardly covering up the rocks and dead-fall in avalanche runout zones.
special avalanche bulletin

THE FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A SPECIAL AVALANCHE BULLETIN

* TIMING…IN EFFECT FROM 6AM MST THIS MORNING TO 6 AM MST TUESDAY

* AFFECTED AREA…FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN UTAH INCLUDING THE WASATCH RANGE...UINTA MOUNTAINS.....BEAR RIVER RANGE

* AVALANCHE DANGER…THE AVALANCHE DANGER IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO HIGH

* IMPACTS... EXPECTED HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE WIDESPREAD AREAS OF UNSTABLE SNOW. BOTH HUMAN TRIGGERED AND NATURAL AVALANCHES WILL BE LIKELY. STAY OFF OF AND OUT FROM UNDER SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES.

THIS WATCH DOES NOT APPLY TO OPERATING SKI AREAS WHERE AVALANCHE HAZARD REDUCTION MEASURES ARE PERFORMED.
special announcement

USU Outdoor Program is hosting a free Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness talk on Wednesday night, 11-30-2016. more info go.. HERE

You are invited to our annual Pray for Snow fundraiser/party on Wednesday December 7 at the Italian Place in downtown Logan. For tickets and information Go...HERE

current conditions

Winter is finally here, and today will be quite stormy in the mountains with up to 2 feet of accumulation expected by evening and west winds gusting in the mid fifties. Dangerous storm slab avalanche conditions already exist on steep slopes at upper elevations, and the continuing powerful storm will cause the danger to continue to rise and become more widespread throughout the day... If you make out expect to find nice deep powder in the backcountry, but with little or no base. I found very shallow early season conditions yesterday and hit a few rocks, with all but due north facing slopes completely bare of snow before last week.

Remember, the Tony Grove Road is a busy shared use area, so you have to watch your speed around pedestrians and dogs. The road is not maintained for driving in the winter and conditions deteriorated significantly during the day yesterday. If you attempt the drive in your 4x4, be prepared with shovel and winter survival gear... Beaver Mountain welcomes up-hill traffic this time of year as it helps to pack out the slopes, but you should consider it as "backcountry terrain" before opening...
recent activity

No avalanches were yet reported locally, but a skier triggered avalanche and a small natural avalanche cycle occurred last week at upper elevations in the Central Wasatch Range...
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

Dangerous storm slab conditions will develop at upper elevations with large amounts of snowfall, periods of rapid accumulation, and sustained strong westerly winds expected today. Pay attention to signs of instability like cracking or collapsing and avoid travel on or under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees....
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

Drifting snow will cause the danger to continue to rise throughout the day in exposed upper and mid-elevation terrain... Natural wind and storm slabs will become increasingly likely at upper elevations and the danger is likely to rise to HIGH on some upper elevation slopes by this evening.

weather

The National Weather Service has continued a Winter Storm Warning for Cache Valley and all the mountains of Northern Utah.

A cold Pacific storm system will cross the region today. A trailing cold northerly flow will follow through midweek, with another storm system possible late in the week.

Weather Forecast: Tony Grove Lake (41.897,-111.6535), Elevation: 8800'
Today: Snow. High near 21. Wind chill values as low as -5. Windy, with a west wind 30 to 38 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 18 to 24 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow showers. Low around 12. Wind chill values as low as -4. Blustery, with a north wind 20 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -6. North wind 14 to 18 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as -8. West northwest wind 9 to 15 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20. West wind 13 to 18 mph.

general announcements

The early season is a great time to refresh yourself and practice companion rescue techniques with your partners.

Check out Avalanche Canada's "Rescue at Cherry Bowl" story HERE

Between now and Jan 15th: Donate to the Utah Avalanche Center by shopping at Whole Foods Market Utah! When you visit any Utah Whole Foods Market locations, bring your re-usable bags, Whole Foods will donate a dime per bag to the Utah Avalanche Center - if you say DONATE my bag credit.

Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche conditions. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.