Logan

There is LOW danger in the backcountry and avalanches are unlikely. Beware of very shallow, early season snow conditions.

The holiday season is right around the corner!! Looking for that special something for your partner? Well, we've got an easy shopping solution for you ...Buy your gifts at our Pray for Snow online auction and support the UAC in Logan. HERE

On Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10am to noon, the UAC in Logan and USU Outdoor Programs will be hosting a FREE beacon clinic at Beaver Mountain base area.

We'll go over the basics of maintenance as well as using a beacon to find a buried avalanche victim.

Sign up here.

Dry conditions will continue through the weekend and next week, with upper elevation daytime temperatures rising into the mid thirties and dropping into the teens at night for the next few days. There is a faint hint of some change in the weather in the long term forecast, so keep your spirits up. A more in depth discussion about long term weather (ensemble) forecasting is HERE.

Currently, hitting rocks or other shallowly buried obstacles presents a significant hazard in the backcountry. Snow surface conditions are inconsistent after this week's winds, warmth, and sun. Most slopes have less than about 2' of total snow, and a steep temperature gradient is turning the shallow snow into loose sugary or faceted grains. In many places, the weak snow is easy to punch through to the rocks below. Once buried later in the season, the loose sugary snow will become a nasty persistent weak layer at the base of the snowpack on many slopes.

Beware of very shallow early season snow conditions in the backcountry. The shallow snow is becoming weak and sugary or faceted, especially around rocks and down trees.

After all the sun and wind this week, the snow surface is variable and inconsistent especially at upper elevations.

It’s a good idea to tone it down in the early season because it’s pretty easy to get hurt in shallow snow, and it’s absolutely the worst time to do so because you could ruin your whole season.

Everybody should make time to examine and practice with your avalanche rescue equipment, and convince your backcountry partners to practice with you.

Visit this website with information about Responsible Winter Recreation by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation.

If you missed the 13th Annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop, the recordings are available for purchase from the UAC Store. HERE

The Tony Grove Road is not maintained for wheeled vehicles in the winter.

EMAIL ADVISORY. If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you 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....HERE. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clickingHERE, or include #utavy in your tweet or Instagram.

I will update this advisory by around 7:30 Monday morning.

This forecast is from the USDA Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. The forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.