Forecast: Abajos Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Abajos Area Mountains

Issued by Eric Trenbeath on
Friday morning, January 9, 2026

New snow and wind have increased the likelihood for human triggered avalanches. Avalanches involving fresh deposits of wind drifted snow as well as avalanches failing on a buried persistent weak layer of sugary, faceted snow are possible. Unstable slabs of wind drifted snow are likely to form on the leeward sides of ridge crests and terrain features such as gully walls and sub ridges. Suspect steep slopes that have more than about 8 inches of freshly deposited, wind drifted snow. Wind drifts are often recognizable by their smooth, rounded appearance and cracking is a sign of instability. A triggered wind slab avalanche may step down into deeper, weak layers in the snowpack. You are most likely to encounter this problem on steep, northerly facing slopes.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

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Special Announcements

SAVE THE DATES!

We are rescheduling our Moab Backcountry 101 Class to Feb 20, 21 in the hopes of more snow. Click here for information and registration. Moab and Monticello locals can use the discount code MOAB-LOCAL for a 10% discount.

Weather and Snow

NWS forecast for the Abajo Mountains.

Wind speed and direction on Abajo Peak.

Snow totals and temps at Buckboard Flat (8924')

Snow totals and temps at Camp Jackson (8858')

Abajo Observations

January 9

6 inches of new snow has fallen at lower elevations in the Abajo Mountains with likely more up high. Strong northwest winds overnight have blown the new snow around creating potentially unstable slabs of wind drifted snow in exposed areas. This is the first significant storm in more than a month. Prior to this, most south facing slopes were bare, and lower elevations such as Camp Jackson and Buckboard Flat had 0-6 inches on the ground. Shady slopes up high had between 18-24 inches of snow, most of which was very loose, weak, and faceted. This faceted snow makes for an unstable base at the bottom of the snowpack. The danger will be greatest where fresh slabs of wind drifted snow are over riding this weak structure, primarily on steep, northerly facing slopes.

Additional Information

It's never too early to start thinking about avalanches. Here are a few things to consider doing:

Learn online. We have over 5 hours of free online learning at the Know Before You Go website
Check out the upcoming in-person Know Before You Go events HERE
Sign up for an on-snow class
Check out the UAC's education progression HERE
Get your avalanche rescue gear ready for winter. Put fresh batteries in your transceiver and update the firmware. Inspect your shovel and probe. Get your airbag backpack ready by possibly doing a test deployment and updating the firmware if it is an electric version or getting your canister refilled if it's not electronic.

General Announcements

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

Forecast for the Abajos Area Mountains

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