Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Monday - March 26, 2018 - 6:55am
bottom line

The snow is stable on most slopes, the danger LOW, and avalanches are generally unlikely in the Logan Zone. Exceptions exist in drifted terrain at upper elevations where you could trigger cornice falls and shallow wind slab avalanches. Small loose wet avalanches entraining fresh snow are possible in sunny terrain.

  • Use normal caution.
  • Avoid treacherous ridge top cornices and steep drifted slopes at upper elevations.

I will update this advisory by 7:30 Wednesday morning, 3/28/18.




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'll find pretty good shallow powder and dust-on-crust conditions in the backcountry, with a few inches of fresh snow at all elevations. Cornice falls and shallow wind slabs are possible on drifted upper elevation slopes, and solar warming could create potential for small loose wet avalanches entraining a few inches of fresh snow in sunny terrain.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 4 inches of new snow and .2" SWE in the last 24 hours. It's 16°F, and there's 74 inches of total snow, with 85% of normal SWE.
  • The UDOT weather station at Hwy 89 Logan Summit reports 14°F, with 2 to 5 mph north wind.
recent activity

  • A large natural avalanche was spotted Friday on the Willard Peak Headwall above the North Fork of the Ogden River.
  • On Friday, I could see numerous natural loose wet avalanches entraining new snow in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.
  • No other new avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone over the weekend.

A sizable natural avalanche was visible Friday 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

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
  • Expect partly sunny conditions in the mountains today, and with high sun angle, solar warming will create potential for loose wet avalanches entraining fresh snow.
  • Dangerous persistent deep slab avalanches are unlikely yet remain possible on very steep, isolated, outlying, or rarely visited terrain with poor snow structure.

Natural loose wet avalanches entraining fresh snow in the Wellsvilles Friday.
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: Isolated snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 24. Wind chill values as low as -1. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph.
  • Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 34. West northwest wind 7 to 14 mph.
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.