UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Avalanche: Moab

Observer Name
Trenbeath
Observation Date
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Avalanche Date
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Red Snow Cirque
Elevation
11,600'
Aspect
East
Slope Angle
Unknown
Trigger
Natural
Avalanche Type
Soft Slab
Avalanche Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer
Facets
Depth
3.5'
Width
800'
Vertical
800'
Comments
Avalanche ran on Saturday afternoon or evening due to an increase in southerly winds blowing in the 20-30 mph range more than 24 hours after the last snowfall. Between Wed and Fri the mountains received up to 2' of snow at this elevation with Gold Basin reporting 19". Late January and February were very dry and much of the snowpack began to facet. Snowfall resumed in early March with 12"-16" falling between the 2-13, followed by 18"-24" between 18-20. Moderate to strong southerly winds have been a constant.
Snowpit was not dug at the avalanche site but it illustrates the typical snowpack structure for the period.
Coordinates