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Forecast for the Abajos Area Mountains

Dave Garcia
Issued by Dave Garcia on
Tuesday morning, November 26, 2024
An incoming storm will bring the first snow to the mountains in several weeks. This storm will bring impressive snow and water to the La Sals, but it looks like the Abajos will get the short end of the stick. Overall coverage will remain thin, and mountain travel will remain difficult for the time being.
Conditions are very thin and rocks, trees, and stumps pose serious hazards. Recreating off of snow-covered roads is not recommended.
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Weather and Snow
It is currently snowing, and as of 6 AM, Buckboard Flat is showing 2 inches of new snow at 3 inches of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE). Another 1-2" of snow is expected during the day today. Temperatures will reach 30 degrees. Winds will blow out of the SW at 15-20 MPH. Snowfall will continue overnight, with another 3-6 inches possible by the morning.
Season Snowfall History:
A series of storms in late October and early November brought over 2' of snow to the mountains at upper elevations. Dry conditions over the past several weeks have greatly diminished the snowpack and most south facing slopes are totally bare. Camp Jackson is reporting 5" of total snow while the Buckboard station in lower North Creek has 8". Upper elevation, shady aspects have 12"-16". This snow has become very weak and sugary, and won't support much of a load. It's also safe to say that this weak, faceted snow at the base of the snowpack will become a persistent weak layer problem.
Weak, sugary, faceted snow forms the foundation of our future snowpack.
Use these links for current conditions.
NWS forecast for the Abajo Mountains.
Snow totals and temps at Buckboard Flat (8924')
Snow totals and temps at Camp Jackson (8858')
Additional Information
Manti-La Sal National Forest Recreation program manager Brian Murdock helped me install this tripod near Abajo Peak for a new wind station. This brings us one step closer to getting reliable wind data!
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.
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