Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Thursday - April 12, 2018 - 7:21am
bottom line

MODERATE: Heightened avalanche conditions will develop in the backcountry. A potent storm will cause rising danger of wind slab and storm snow avalanches as new snow accumulates and is drifted on steep mid and upper elevation slopes.

  • Cooling will help, but loose wet avalanches are still possible this morning.
  • 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

A potent cold front will bring much colder temperatures, rain turning to snow, and strong west winds to the Logan Zone today. The storm could produce significant snowfall in the mountains, with 6 to 10 inches possible at 8500' by evening, and more on the way tonight. Rapid accumulation and drifting from strong westerly winds will cause heightened avalanche conditions and rising danger at mid and upper elevations in the backcountry.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 34°F, and 68" of total snow with 89% of average SWE.
  • The UDOT ​Hwy 89 Logan Summit weather station reports 33°F, and increasing west winds, currently blowing 15 to 20 mph.

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.

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

The avalanche danger will rise at mid and upper elevations as today's fresh snow accumulates and is drifted into lee slope deposition zones. Wind slab and storm snow avalanches will become increasingly possible as snow accumulates and drifts grow deeper this afternoon and evening.

  • Avoid drifted fresh snow on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and rock outcrops.
  • Stay off and out from under large overhanging cornices, which might break further back than you expect and could trigger an avalanche on a steep slope 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

Temperatures stayed well above freezing at all mountain stations again last night, and the snow surface is only superficially frozen this morning. Rapidly dropping temperatures will help to set up the saturated snow, but rain and wet new snow this morning will cause heightened wet avalanche conditions. Natural and triggered loose wet avalanches (or sluffs) entraining saturated surface snow are possible.

  • Avoid being on or under steep slopes with saturated surface snow.
weather

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Logan Zone. A cold and potent Pacific storm system will advance east across the Great Basin today through Friday. High pressure aloft will return for the weekend.

  • Today: Snow showers before noon, then snow after noon. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature falling to around 19 by 5pm. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west 24 to 29 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.
  • Tonight: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 13. Wind chill values as low as -9. Windy, with a west northwest wind 31 to 33 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
  • Friday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as -3. Blustery, with a northwest wind 22 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. 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 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.