Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Saturday - December 16, 2017 - 6:24am
bottom line

Snow in the backcountry is stable and the avalanche danger is Low.

  • Avalanches are unlikely, but possible in extreme terrain.
  • More than expected snow and/or wind could cause heightened wind slab avalanche conditions at upper elevations.
  • Use normal caution. Avoid fresh wind drifts in steep terrain.



special announcement

Don’t know what to buy your favorite skier for Christmas? Discount lift tickets for Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Deer Valley, Snowbasin,and Beaver Mountain are now available, donated by the resorts to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center. Details and order information here. These make a great holiday gift and all proceeds go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!

Now is a great time to sign up for an avalanche class. Go HERE for a list of UAC classes.

current conditions

The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 24°F and 26" of total snow containing 90% of average SWE (Snow Water Equivalent). It's 20°F at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, with west-southwest wind currently blowing around 16 mph, and gusting to 37 mph. Snow surface conditions are quite variable, with wind damage up high, a crust on sunny slopes, and widespread very weak recrystallized or faceted snow elsewhere.

  • There is more total snow and better coverage in the central and northern Bear River Range and at upper elevations.
  • Shallow early season snow conditions exist, and hitting rocks or stumps is a significant hazard. Travel cautiously and keep your speed down.
  • The Tony Grove Road is not maintained for wheeled travel in the winter.

Weak surface snow develops during periods of high pressure. Feathery surface hoar is actually frost growing on the snow surface 12/14/17.


Super-sized surface hoar (12/15/17)


recent activity

No new avalanches were reported in the past week. A natural avalanche cycle occurred at upper elevations during the intense storm on 12/3/17.

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

With only a couple inches forecast for today, the avalanche danger will not change much. Backcountry snow is mostly stable, and travel is fairly easy on weakening supportable snow. The avalanche danger is Low, which means that avalanches are unlikely. Even so, avalanches are still possible, especially in very steep or extreme terrain. More than expected snowfall and/or wind could cause the danger to increase somewhat in exposed terrain.

  • Drifting may create some fresh wind slabs, and avalanches are possible on some upper elevation slopes. Shallow drifts could become sensitive to human triggers.
  • Avoid drifts (or wind slabs) in steep terrain near ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, saddles, rock bands, scoops, and sub-ridges.
  • Sluffs or loose avalanches entraining dry surface snow are possible in steep terrain.
  • A ride in even a small avalanche could be particularly dangerous due to the hard underlying snow and potential for being raked through rocks or deadfall below.
weather

A weakening Pacific storm system will cross the area today bringing light precipitation to northern and western Utah. High pressure aloft will build back into the area beginning Sunday. A new and substantially colder storm system will arrive in Utah for the middle of the upcoming week.

  • Expect light snow in the mountains today, with 2 to 4 inches possible. High temperatures at 8500' will be around 24°F, with 10 to 17 mph northwest wind.
  • An inch or two of additional accumulation is possible early tonight. Skies will be cloudy, with a low temperature around 14°F and 8 to 11 mph north wind.
  • Sunday will be partly sunny, with a high temperature near 24°F and 8 mph north wind.
general announcements

With rather meager snow conditions and nice weather in the mountains, now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners.


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Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI: Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC. Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

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.

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 occur.