Advisory: Logan Area Mountains | utahavalanchecenter.org

Avalanche Advisory

Advisory: Logan Area Mountains	Issued by Paige Pagnucco for Friday - April 14, 2017 - 5:27am

bottom line

The avalanche danger is LOW. If temperatures climb higher than forecasted or if the sun is out for even a short length of time, triggered loose wet avalanches might be possible.

special announcement

Great news… so far there haven’t been any avalanche fatalities in Utah this winter! It has been 26 years since we’ve had a fatality-free winter. Let’s keep it that way and stay safe this spring. Our goal is for everyone to enjoy the Greatest Snow on Earth and come home safe every day.

The final regular advisory will be this Sunday, April 16. For the rest of the month we'll issue updates any time there is measurable snowfall; however, we will discontinue issuing avalanche danger ratings after Sunday.

current conditions

What a difference a day makes - yesterday the winds were howling and the warm temperatures made it feel like June. This morning though, post-cold front, it is back to winter with mountain temps about 30 degrees cooler than Thursday's afternoon highs.

With one inch of new snow, the Tony Grove Snotel reports 28 °F and there's 100" of total snow, with 155% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent) at 8400'. Southwesterly winds are blowing 10-15 mph and it's 20°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station.

Snow surfaces are a mix of crusts of varying thickness, refrozen and damp snow. We found excellent sledding conditions over the past few days in the warm, wet snow but I imagine today it will be quite set up and firm with drastically colder temperatures overnight. The snow will soften slowly today. If at all, you might find corn conditions on south and west aspects.

recent activity

A large, loose wet snow avalanche occured on a 9000' east facing slope in southeast Idaho, likely on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Avalanche Problem 1

type	aspect/elevation	characteristics
		LIKELIHOOD LIKELY UNLIKELY SIZE LARGE SMALL TREND INCREASING DANGER SAME DECREASING DANGER over the next 12 hours
description Colder temperatures are helping to increase the stability of the springtime snow but, as you travel in the mountains, keep a few things in mind: If temperatures climb higher than forecasted or if the sun is out for even a short length of time, triggered loose wet avalanches might become possible. At this time of year, snow can change in mere minutes. Avoid steep slopes where the snow is saturated or showing signs of instability like rollerballs, pinwheels, and natural sluffs under trees or rock outcroppings. Avoid being on or below large ridge-top cornices. Overhanging cornices can break further back than expected and trigger avalanches on slopes below. Cornice falls are possible anytime, but are most likely during the heat of the day. Icy surfaces will make for "slide for life" conditions on steep slopes. You might consider using crampons and an ice axe. Continue to use safe travel protocols as you travel through avalanche terrain. One person at a time is the rule. Watch your partner from a safe spot. Everyone should have a beacon, shovel and probe and know how to use them.

type

aspect/elevation

characteristics

LIKELIHOOD

LIKELY

UNLIKELY

SIZE

LARGE

SMALL

TREND

INCREASING DANGER

SAME

DECREASING DANGER

over the next 12 hours

description

Colder temperatures are helping to increase the stability of the springtime snow but, as you travel in the mountains, keep a few things in mind:

If temperatures climb higher than forecasted or if the sun is out for even a short length of time, triggered loose wet avalanches might become possible. At this time of year, snow can change in mere minutes. Avoid steep slopes where the snow is saturated or showing signs of instability like rollerballs, pinwheels, and natural sluffs under trees or rock outcroppings.
Avoid being on or below large ridge-top cornices. Overhanging cornices can break further back than expected and trigger avalanches on slopes below. Cornice falls are possible anytime, but are most likely during the heat of the day.
Icy surfaces will make for "slide for life" conditions on steep slopes. You might consider using crampons and an ice axe.
Continue to use safe travel protocols as you travel through avalanche terrain. One person at a time is the rule. Watch your partner from a safe spot. Everyone should have a beacon, shovel and probe and know how to use them.

weather

It's back to winter in the mountains. Today will be mostly cloudy with highs only reaching the low 30's F and southwest winds blowing 10-20 mph. Another 1 to 2 inches of snow is possible. The system moves out by tomorrow and high pressure moves back in with sunny skies and warmer temperatures forecast for the weekend.

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.

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