Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Saturday - March 24, 2018 - 7:15am
bottom line

Heightened avalanche conditions and MODERATE danger exist in the backcountry today. Human triggered cornice falls and wind slab avalanches are possible in drifted upper elevation terrain. Thursday's heavy rain saturated the snow, and large wet slab and loose wet avalanches remain possible today, especially in steep mid elevation terrain.

  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.
  • Stay clear of treacherous cornices on the major ridges and drifted upper elevation slopes.
  • Continue to avoid and stay out from under steep slopes with saturated snow. ​

I will update this advisory by 7:30 Monday morning, 3/26/18.




special announcement

We have lift tickets for Snowbasin and Powder Mountain remaining. The tickets are discounted an additional 20%. Details and order information here. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!
current conditions

You might find decent powder riding conditions at upper elevations, but heightened avalanche conditions exist and human triggered avalanches are possible on many slopes in the backcountry. A good solid freeze tonight will solidify the saturated snow at lower and mid elevations and increase snow stability.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 9 inches of new snow and 1.5" SWE from the recent warm and wet storm. At 1:00 this morning, it was 28°F, and there was 71 inches of total snow, with 84% of normal SWE.
  • The UDOT weather station at Hwy 89 Logan Summit reports 22°F, with light east winds.
  • It's 26°F on James Peak, and south winds increased overnight, currently blowing 30 mph, with gusts in the 40s.

Loose wet avalanches were comon yesterday in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.
recent activity
  • It was and active day in the Wasatch and Uinta Ranges yesterday, with numerous large triggered and a few natural wet and persistent slab avalanches reported. Here is our avalanche list
  • A large natural avalanche was spotted yesterday on the Willard Peak Headwall above the North Fork of the Ogden River.
  • I could see numerous natural loose wet avalanches entraining new snow in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.

A sizable natural avalanche was visible yesterday on the Willard Peak Headwall above the Ogden Valley.
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

South winds picked up overnight, drifting snow into lee slope avalanche starting zones and building cornices. Human triggered wind slab avalanches and cornice falls are possible in drifted terrain at upper elevations.

  • 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.
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

Thursday's rain added weight to the snowpack and weakened the existing structure. Dangerous wet and/or persistent deep slab avalanches are possible in steep terrain with saturated shallow snow and in drifted areas with preexisting poor snow structure.

  • 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 12 hours
description

Natural and triggered loose wet avalanches are possible as mountain temperatures warm up during the day after rain saturated the snow. Loose wet avalanches entraining significant piles of saturated surface snow are likely in steep terrain, especially on mid-elevation slopes facing the northern half of the compass. Cooler temperatures will help, but backcountry snow at all but the highest elevations in the Logan Zone is saturated and prone to producing dangerous wet avalanches.

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

Natural loose wet avalanches entraining fresh snow in the Wellsvilles yesterday.
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 likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 20 to 25 mph becoming west northwest 14 to 19 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
  • Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 18. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south southeast after midnight. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
  • Sunday: Snow. High near 20. Southeast wind 5 to 11 mph becoming west northwest in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 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.