Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Tuesday - March 28, 2017 - 7:15am
bottom line

Heightened avalanche conditions exist on steep slopes in the backcountry. Shallow wind slabs and softer storm slabs are possible to trigger on upper elevation slopes. Wet loose avalanches, entraining saturated fresh snow, will become likely on sunny slopes as temperatures warm 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

The Tony Grove Snotel ​at 8400' reports 27 °F and 6" of new snow in 24 hrs. There's 102" of total snow, with 144% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent)​. A 8 mph west wind is blowing at the UDOT Hwy 89 Summit weather station and it's 29 °F. Drifting from westerly winds and several inches of new snow created heightened wind and storm 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.

  • Triggered storm slabs involving fresh snow and failing on a density change within it are possible.
  • 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

A ridge builds in mid week with the next storm expected late Thursday into Saturday.

Weather Forecast: Tony Grove Lake (41.897,-111.6535), Elevation: 8800'
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 20 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 20. North wind 14 to 20 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. West northwest wind 5 to 14 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.