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Forecast for the Moab Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath on
Monday morning, March 31, 2014

The Avalanche danger is MODERATE. You will need to be aware of two distinct dangers: 1) recent deposits of wind drifted snow, primarily on steep slopes at upper elevations, and 2) wet slide activity on sun exposed slopes as the day heats up.

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Special Announcements

I will update this advisory twice a week for the remainder of the season unless conditions change. This advisory is generated from field work on Sunday, March 30, and weather observations received Monday, March 31, at 6:00 a.m. The next advisory will be posted on Friday, Aprril 4th.

Weather and Snow

La Sal Mountains

The story has been the wind, and the sun, and did I mention the wind? Winds howled on Sunday. Mostly southerly, they veered from SW to SE, averaging 30 mph along ridge tops and gusting to near 70. They backed off by Monday morning averaging 10 mph from the NW. On Saturday, a strong sun and temperatures in the 50's put a crust over nearly everything up to about 10,500', as a result, there wasn't a lot of snow available for transport except at the upper elevations, but there was a fair amount of it moving around up there on Sunday. The snow pack is deteriorating rapidly, and many sun and wind exposed slopes are already stripped to bare ground. Unsettled weather for the week will prevent a corn cycle from happening, but there is a chance for snow midweek.

Winds and temperature on Pre-Laurel Peak (11,705')

Temperature and new snow totals in Gold Basin (10,050')

Total snow depth and temperature near Geyser Pass Trailhead (9850')

Abajo Mountains

We are through issuing information on conditions in the Abajo Mountains. You can get current weather and snow pack data on the links below.

Winds and temperature on Abajo Peak.

Snow totals at Camp Jackson (8968')

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Avalanche Problem #1
Persistent Weak Layer
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Strong winds moved snow around on Sunday, and you will need to be aware of recently deposited wind slabs on all aspects at upper elevations on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features. Many of these slabs will be stiff, or hard and supportable, and they may be disguised by wind etching or scouring, so be alert to anything that feels or sounds hollow underneath. With forecasted windy conditions all week, this problem will persist.

Avalanche Problem #2
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

Unsettled weather for the week will keep the mountains under partly to mostly cloudy skies, with the exception being on Monday. Nevertheless, high temperatures are expected to be in the mid 40's, and it won't take much to heat up the snow if the sun does poke out. For this reason, it will be necessary to maintain awareness for wet slide activity on all sun exposed slopes.

Additional Information
  • Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming south southwest in the morning.
  • Wednesday Night A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly between 11pm and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Very windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph increasing to 35 to 40 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph.
  • Tuesday A slight chance of snow showers, mixing with rain after 1pm, then gradually ending. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Very windy, with a southwest wind 45 to 50 mph decreasing to 35 to 40 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 75 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Tuesday Night A 40 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.
  • Wednesday Snow. High near 38. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
  • Wednesday Night Snow likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 23. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
  • Thursday A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43.
  • Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.
  • Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.
General Announcements

OBSERVATIONS: If you are out and about in the mountains, I'd love to know what you are seeing so please SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS You can read current OBSERVATIONS HERE.

ROAD CONDITIONS: The road is mostly dry and passable.

UAC MOBILE APP: Get your advisory on your iphone with this app

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