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Forecast for the Moab Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath for
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
The avalanche danger is MODERATE on steep slopes that have recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Avoid slopes with a smooth rounded appearance or that show signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface. There also remains an isolated, or MODERATE danger for avalanches stepping down 2'-4' deep into buried, persistent weak layers of loose, sugary, faceted snow. Northerly facing slopes with steep, rocky, and more radical terrain are the most suspect for this type of avalanche.
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Weather and Snow
After taking a break overnight, NE winds are again on the increase averaging 15-20 mph along ridge tops. Under clear skies, temperatures are cold, in the single digits at 10,000' and near zero on Pre Laurel Peak. Temps today will creep up into the high teens, but continued light to moderate NE winds will keep a serious chill in the air. Dry weather with gradually warming temps will continue through the week with our next chance for snow looking like around Sunday.
Charlie Ramser was up yesterday and sent in this observation.
New snow totals in Gold Basin (10,000')
Snow totals at the Geyser Pass Trailhead (9600')
Wind, temperature, and humidity on Pre Laurel Peak (11,700')
National Weather Service point forecast.
Recent Avalanches
No recent avalanche activity to report.
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Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Drifted Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
Winds over the past couple of days have shifted from SE-NE-NW and aback again, easily blowing and drifting Tuesday's 6" of low density snow around. Today's NE winds will continue to drift snow. Be on the lookout for fresh deposits and newly formed stiff slabs, on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain. Avoid slopes with a smooth rounded appearance or that show signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface.
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
With our poor snowpack structure, the possibility remains for triggering an avalanche on a buried persistent weak layer of loose, sugary, faceted snow. This is primarily a low probability, but high consequence situation where a triggered avalanches could release between 2'-4' deep. The danger is most acute in areas of steep, rocky, north facing terrain that has a weak, sugary, underlying snowpack, and I'm going to continue to avoid those areas.
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 801-647-8896, or send me an email: [email protected].
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This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
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