Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Wednesday - March 30, 2016 - 7:15am
bottom line

MODERATE (level 2): Triggered soft slabs, wind slabs, and entraining sluffs and are possible in steep upper elevation terrain today and natural activity involving the fresh storm snow will become likely with the next significant solar warm up. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully, especially at upper elevations. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes during their initial warm up, especially if the sun comes out for a while.
current conditions

There's a foot or two of new snow at upper elevations in the mountains, and you can expect deep spring powder riding conditions in the backcountry. The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 24 degrees and a storm total of around 19 inches of new snow with with 1.8" inches of water. There's 104 inches of total snow containing 108% of average water for the date. I'm reading 17 degrees at the 9700' CSI Logan Peak weather station, but the wind sensor appears to be encased with rime or snow.. Mt. Ogden reported very calm conditions yesterday afternoon and moderate southerly winds overnight. Currently reading 10 mph averages from the south-southwest
recent activity
  • It was a very active day in the Ogden and Salt Lake Mountains, with numerous triggered soft storm and wind slabs reported from the ski resorts and backcountry.
  • Other than some loose wet activity, no recent avalanches were reported in the Logan Zone.

​***To view our updated list of backcountry observations and avalanche activity from around Utah, go to our observations page

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

Heightened storm snow avalanche issues exist at upper elevations, and human triggered soft slabs 1 to 2 feet deep are possible on slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. This type of new snow instability usually doesn't last long, and a good deal of settlement has already occurred within the new snow. Soft slab avalanches may fail on the old snow surface or on a density change or weak layer within the new snow. Heat related soft slabs and/or loose sluffs entraining significant piles of initially moistened storm snow will become likely when the fresh snow is initially warmed, especially if the sun pops out later today.
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

Heightened wind slab avalanche conditions exist and human triggered wind slabs are possible today in some drifted upper elevation terrain. We noticed very calm conditions and no drifting in the Central Bear River Range yesterday, but east winds Monday night and moderate south wind last night certainly had lots of snow available for transport.

  • Watch for and avoid drifted snow on the lee sides of ridges, cross-loaded along sub-ridges, and in and around terrain features like rock outcroppings, gullies, scoops, trees, and saddles.
  • Cracking in the snow surface is a sign of potential wind slab instability.
  • Beware large overhanging ridge-top cornices, which could break further back than you expect and might trigger avalanches on drifted slopes below.

Cracking like this is a red flag indicating potential soft slab instability. (3-23-16)
weather

Today: Snow likely before noon, then a chance of snow showers after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 32. East wind 10 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. North wind 9 to 14 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of snow after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a north wind 17 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT ALONG THE WEST COAST WILL SHIFT EAST INTO THE GREAT BASIN FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND.

general announcements

The National Avalanche Center recently completed an animated tutorial on the North American Avalanche Danger Scale.  HERE

Please submit snow and avalanche observations from your ventures in the backcountry HERE. You can call us at 801-524-5304 or email HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram or Tweet us @UAClogan. To report avalanche activity in the Logan Area or to contact the local avalanche forecaster call me, Toby, at 435-757-7578. 

We'll update this advisory throughout the season on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings by about 7:30

This advisory is produced by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. It describes only general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.