Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Monday - March 27, 2017 - 6:40am
bottom line

Heightened avalanche conditions exist on steep slopes in the backcountry. Shallow wind slabs are possible to trigger on drifted upper elevation slopes. Wet loose avalanches, entraining saturated fresh snow, will become more likely in the middle of the day. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.




special announcement

UAC Gear Sale Fundraiser: We still have some donated gear and certificates left over from the season. Want a guided rock climbing or canyoneering trip in Moab? How about a new pair of skis for some spring ski missions? Check out our gear sale photo album to see if we have what you need. This is a fundraising sale for the Utah Avalanche Center. All proceeds benefit avalanche forecasting and education. Click here to visit the sale!
current conditions

It's 27 °F and there's a 2 mph northeast wind at the UDOT Hwy 89 summit sheds this morning. At 10:00 last night the Tony Grove Snotel ​at 8400' reported 102" of total snow, with 143% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent)​. A 20 mph south-southwest wind is blowing at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station and it's 24 °F. While the danger is low in many areas, drifting from westerly winds over the weekend created heightened wind slab conditions at upper elevations, and seasonally warm daytime temperatures will cause heightened wet avalanche conditions on steep slopes with saturated fresh snow.

recent activity

Over the weekend, observers reported several shallow triggered wind slabs on drifted upper elevation slopes in the Wellsville and Bear River Ranges. Numerous wet loose avalanches entraining fresh surface snow were also reported.
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

Triggered avalanches are possible on slopes steeper than 30 degrees in drifted terrain at upper elevations.

  • Wind slabs made up of stiffer drifted snow often look rounded and chalky and may produce hollow, drum-like sounds.
  • Avoid drifted snow on the lee side of ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, sub-ridges, and cliff-bands.


Shallow triggered wind slabs under Box Elder Peak in the Wellsville Range yesterday, 3/26/17.
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

Triggered and natural avalanches entraining fresh loose wet snow are possible on steep slopes at upper and mid elevations.

  • Watch for signs of wet instability like roller balls, pinwheels and natural sluffs under trees or rock outcroppings.
  • Avoid being on or under steep slopes if fresh snow is saturated, sticky, or slushy.
  • Glide and wet slab avalanches are unlikely but possible at any time of day.

    Friday we intentionally triggered predictable wet loose sluffs in State Line Bowl in upper Sink Hollow. The slow moving avalanches were easily triggered from above, entrained a few inches of saturated new snow and made large piles of heavy debris.
Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Overhanging cornices can break further back than expected and trigger avalanches on slopes below.

weather

The next cool and wet storm will impact the region through tomorrow. A second storm is expected late Thursday into Saturday. Today, expect snow and thunder showers, with 2 to 4 inches of snow possible, a 8500' high temperature of 34 °F and 3 to 7 mph southwest wind. Snow and thunder showers tonight, with 3 to 7 inches possible, low temperature of 22 °F and 18 to 21 mph northwest wind. Snow showers are likely tomorrow morning, partly sunny in the afternoon, high temperature of 33 °F and 18 to 22 mph north-northwest wind, gusting to 32 mph.
general announcements

Discount lift tickets for Beaver Mountain, Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, and the Central Wasatch resorts are donated by the resorts to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details and order information here.

Do you buy groceries at Smiths? When you register your Smith’s rewards card with their Community Rewards program, they will donate to the Utah Avalanche Center whenever you make a purchase. It's easy, only takes a minute, and doesn't cost you anything. Details here.

If you sign up for AmazonSmile and designate the Utah Avalanche Center as your favorite charity, they will donate a portion of everything you spend to the UAC. It doesn't cost you a penny and we'd really appreciate the help.

Your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. You can call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include @utavy in your Instagram. In the Logan Area you can reach me at 435-757-7578

We will update this advisory regularly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by about 7:30.

This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.