Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Monday - April 9, 2018 - 7:00am
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MODERATE: Heightened avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry and human triggered wind slab and loose wet avalanches are possible.

  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.

​I will update this advisory on Wednesday morning, 3/11/18




special announcement

Lift tickets for Snowbasin remaining. The tickets are discounted almost 50%. Details and order information here. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!
current conditions

Several inches of new snow fell yesterday, with significantly more accumulation at upper elevations. Drifting from strong northwest winds created a heightened danger of wind slab avalanches. Cooler temperatures will certainly help, but loose wet avalanches entraining saturated new snow remain possible today, especially in sunny terrain.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 7 inches of snow with .8" SWE in the past 24 hours. It rained at all elevations (even up high) on Saturday. It's 26°F, and there is 75" of total snow with 87% of average SWE.
  • The UDOT weather station at Hwy 89 Logan Summit reports 23°F, and northwest winds have calmed this morning after sustaining 10 to 20 mph average wind speed and gusts in the mid 30s yesterday and most of last night.

There is still plenty of snow up high, but getting there is an issue. Please do your best to limit resource damage. Stay on roads and avoid riding over bare ground, melted out meadows, and sage brush. It is possible to bring your trailer up the Tony Grove Road to the first overlook where you can park close to the retreating snow.
recent activity

Other than minor wet sluffs, no significant avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone this weekend. With clear weather and good visibility today, it'll be interesting to see if Saturday's crazy weather caused any significant natural avalanche activity.

A few large natural avalanches occurred in the Wasatch Range durring Saturday's wacky (very wet) weather. This glide avalanche was observed in Broads Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
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

Significant drifting of yesterday's fresh snow occurred yesterday and overnight, creating heightened wind slab avalanche conditions in exposed terrain.

  • Avoid drifted snow on steep lee slopes near major ridges and in and around terrain features like gullies, scoops, rock outcrops, and sub ridges...
  • Stay well clear of large overhanging cornices, which often break further back than expected and could 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

Natural and triggered loose wet avalanches (or sluffs) entraining saturated new snow are possible, especially on steep sunny slopes.

  • Natural loose wet avalanches on steep slopes could initiate from point releases in rock bands or from cornice falls.
  • Loose wet avalanches could entrain sizable piles of cement-like snow and run farther than expected.
  • Watch for and avoid travel on steep slopes above trees, cliff bands, and other potential terrain traps
weather

High pressure will return today, followed by a mild southwesterly flow Tuesday and Wednesday. A substantially colder storm system will follow for Thursday into Friday.

  • Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. West wind 6 to 13 mph.
  • Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. West wind around 10 mph.
  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon.
  • Tuesday Night: Rain and snow showers likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 18 to 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
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 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.

EMAIL ADVISORY: If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.

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.