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Forecast for the Abajos Area Mountains

Mark Staples
Issued by Mark Staples for
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Today the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all elevations and aspects. The likelihood of triggering an avalanche is decreasing, but these are still dangerous avalanche conditions that require cautious routefinding and conservative decision-making Watch for wet avalanches at low elevations on southerly facing and west facing slopes.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Weather and Snow
This morning temperatures are in the teens F. Winds have been calm but increased this morning on Abajo peak blowing easterly at 15 mph gusting to 20 mph.
Today will have strong sunshine and clear skies. Winds are forecasted to only blow 5-10 mph.
The Tuesday/Wednesday storm delivered nearly 15 to 20 inches of snow (1.5 to 2.1 inches of snow water equivalent). At low elevations, some of the new snow was wet. It refroze and now there is an ice crust buried under a few inches of snow that fell later in the storm.
The snowpack in the Abajos is very deep. Yesterday we found snow depths that ranged from 7 feet to 11 feet.
Snotel totals at Buckboard Flat (8924')
Snotel totals at Camp Jackson (8858')
Wind, temperature, and humidity on Abajo Peak (11,000')
National Weather Service point forecast.
Recent Avalanches
Yesterday while riding up North Creek and into Indian Creek, I was surprised by the lack of avalanche activity. There has been a major cycle of avalanches in the La Sal Mountains which received about 3 feet of snow this week. Avalanche activity in the Abajos has only been in the new snow.
Below is a photo of an avalanche that occurred in the La Sal mountains (W. Holdman)
Additional Information
Carry appropriate rescue gear: beacon, probe, shovel, and choose where you ride based on the avalanche forecast for the day!
General Announcements
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 me at 801-641-6307, or send me an email: [email protected].
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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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