Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Thursday - March 22, 2018 - 7:30am
bottom line

Heightened avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry, and a warm, wet, and windy storm will cause rising danger today. Dangerous wet avalanche conditions and CONSIDERABLE danger could develop by this afternoon, with natural avalanches possible and human triggered avalanches likely. Wind slab avalanches and cornice falls will become increasingly likely on drifted upper elevation slopes.

  • Avoid steep slopes with saturated or drifted snow.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and make conservative decisions.




special announcement

We have discount lift tickets for Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Snowbasin,and Beaver Mountain. Details and order information here. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!
current conditions

A warm, windy, and wet storm will cause rising avalanche danger in the backcountry today, and dangerous wet avalanche conditions could develop in some areas by afternoon.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports a wet inch of new snow, with .3" SWE in the last 24 hrs. It's 38°F, and there's 69 inches of total snow, with 84% of normal SWE.
  • UDOT Hwy 89 Logan Summit reports 29°F, with 3 to 5 mph east winds.
  • It's 33°F on James Peak, with 20 mph wind from the south-southwest, gusts near 30 mph.
recent activity

No significant avalanche activity was reported recently in the Logan Zone.

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

Natural and triggered wet avalanches will become increasingly likely as rain saturates mountain snow. The rain/snow line will be quite high today, with a few inches of wet snow accumulating above about 8500'. Temperatures hovered near or above freezing last night in many areas, and mid-elevation snow is already saturated. Loose wet avalanches entraining significant piles of saturated surface snow are possible in steep terrain. The danger will rise during the day, and wet avalanches could become likely this afternoon, especially in areas that receive heavy rain.

  • Roller balls, pinwheels, and natural sluffs indicate potential for wet avalanche activity.
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

Rain will add weight to the snow and weaken existing structure. Dangerous wet and/or persistent deep slab avalanches are possible in isolated steep terrain with shallow weak snow.

  • Avoid very steep rocky or treed slopes with shallow snow and poor snow structure.
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

Human triggered wind slab avalanches and cornice falls are possible in drifted terrain at upper elevations, and drifting from increasing south winds will cause the danger to rise today. Dangerous conditions are likely to develop, with natural cornice falls and wind slab avalanches possible later this afternoon and overnight.

  • Avoid drifted snow in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and cliff bands.
  • Stay well clear of ridge-top cornices, which often break further back than expected and can trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
weather

The broad area of high pressure aloft across the western states will generate a warming trend across Utah through the end of the week.

  • Today: Snow showers before noon, then rain and snow. High near 44. Windy, with a south wind 13 to 18 mph increasing to 27 to 32 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
  • Tonight: Snow. Low around 29. Windy, with a south southwest wind 22 to 32 mph decreasing to 9 to 19 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
  • Friday: Snow likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. West southwest wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
general announcements

Episode 7 of the UAC Podcast "Mastery and False Mastery - An Interview with 'Big' Don Sharaf" is live. With a snow career spanning over 30 years, Don has enough mileage in the mountains to have learned a thing or two, including the profound value of humility when staring into the face of the dragon. Listen in on our conversation about the idea of mastery and if such a thing can exist in the avalanche world. Check it out on ​the UAC blog, ITunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The UAC Marketplace is still open. Our online marketplace still has deals on skis, packs, airbag packs, beacons, snowshoes, soft goods and much more.

The UAC has new support programs with Outdoor Research and Darn Tough. Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at Outdoor Research, REI, Backcountry.com, Darn Tough, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay a portion of your purchase will be donated to the FUAC. See our Donate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop.

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 Check it out on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. Here's our rescue practice video.

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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your 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.