Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Wednesday - March 29, 2017 - 6:25am
bottom line

Heightened avalanche conditions exist on steep slopes in the backcountry. Triggered wind slabs are possible on drifted upper elevation slopes. Wet loose avalanches, entraining saturated fresh snow, will become likely as temperatures warm in the middle of the day. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully. Avoid steep slopes with saturated or sticky soft snow.
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 was nice and cold with clear skies overnight. Clouds kept the snow cool yesterday afternoon and we found great riding conditions and some decent wind-swept powder up high. The Tony Grove Snotel ​reports 24 °F and 103" of total snow, with 144% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent)​. There's about 8" of new snow since Monday night at 8400'. A 15 mph west-northwest wind is blowing at the CSI Logan Peak weather station and it's 18 °F. Rapidly warming daytime temperatures and sun will cause heightened wet avalanche conditions on steep slopes with saturated fresh snow.

recent activity

We easily triggered wet loose avalanches on steep north and east facing slopes off White Pine Knob in the middle of the day yesterday.

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 wind slab 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.
  • Overhanging cornices can break further back than expected and trigger avalanches on slopes below.
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.
weather

High pressure will build into the region today. The high will give way to the next Pacific storm system that crosses the area late Thursday through Friday night. High pressure returns for the weekend. Today will be mostly sunny, a high temperature at 8500' of 41 °F and 10 to 15 mph west-northwest wind. Snow showers are possible late tonight, mostly cloudy, a low temperature of 32 °F and 10 to 15 mph southwest wind. Snow and thunder showers tomorrow, with a high temperature of 36 °F and 15 to 20 mph southwest wind. 6 to 10 inches of new snow is possible by Friday morning.






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.