Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Wednesday - April 11, 2018 - 7:01am
bottom line

MODERATE: Heightened avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry and wet avalanches are possible in the heat of the day.

  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.




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

After a relatively warm night and a poor refreeze, the snow surface will soften early as temperatures rise in the mountains today. Wet avalanches entraining saturated snow are possible in the heat of midday, especially in sheltered sunny terrain.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 38°F, and 70" of total snow with 89% of average SWE.
  • The UDOT ​Hwy 89 Logan Summit weather station reports 35°F, and 2 to 5 mph northwest winds this morning after recording 10 to 15 mph average wind speeds and gusts to 30 mph 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 loose wet activity in steep terrain with last weekend's storm no significant avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone recently.

Natural loose wet avalanches ocurred in steep terrain in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness over the weekend.
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

Temperatures stayed well above freezing at all mountain stations last night, and the snow surface is only superficially frozen this morning. The snow will soften early today and high angled Spring sun and potential green-housing will cause heightened wet avalanche conditions. Natural and triggered loose wet avalanches (or sluffs) entraining saturated surface snow are possible, especially on steep sunny and sheltered slopes. Wet slab avalanches are also possible on isolated very steep 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
  • Stay well clear of large overhanging cornices, which often break further back than expected and could trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
weather

A mild southwesterly flow will remain across the region today. A substantially colder storm system will impact the region Thursday into Friday, with high pressure returning for the weekend.

  • Today: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a southwest wind 18 to 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Tonight: Snow likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. West southwest wind 13 to 18 mph becoming south southeast 7 to 12 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
  • Thursday: Snow. Temperature falling to around 17 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -2. Breezy, with a southwest wind 13 to 18 mph becoming west 24 to 29 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.
  • Thursday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 14. Wind chill values as low as -8. Windy, with a west northwest wind 31 to 33 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 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 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.