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Forecast for the Moab Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath on
Sunday morning, February 21, 2016

The overall avalanche danger is generally LOW. But low danger doesn't mean no danger, and you should always maintain your avalanche awareness and carefully analyze steep terrain for potential avalanche dangers.

Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements

Hats off to Moab Powersports for stepping up and getting their snowbike riders educated about avalanches. These fellas just completed a 101 course with a nighttime classroom session and a day in the field. Good job guys!

Weather and Snow

Skies are again clear this morning and westerly winds are in the single digits along ridgetops. It's currently 21 degrees on Pre Laurel Peak and 27 at the Geyser Pass Trailhead.

Nuking southwest winds on Thursday blew down trees and put the final hurt on our old, tired snow surface. Much of the snow is heavily textured and a variety of wind and sun crusts abound. On the bright side, it should be a beautiful day in the mountains and you can go just about anywhere making conditions ripe for bagging a summit or covering a lot of ground.

Winds, temperature and humidity on Pre-Laurel Peak

New snow totals, temperature and humidity in Gold Basin

Total snow depth and temperature at Geyser Pass Trailhead

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Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

The avalanche danger is mostly low in the La Sal Mountains. But remember that low danger doesn't mean no danger. When you are traveling in the mountains it's always important to have your avalanche glasses on and look for the following potential dangers:

Wind Slabs - You may still find an isolated hard wind slab on the lee side of a ridge crest or terrain feature such as a sub ridge or gully wall in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain. Keep an eye out for areas that feel stiff and hollow like a drum.

Wet Slides - I've not noticed any signs of wet slide instability for more than a week, even under days with warm sunny skies. But as the day heats up, be alert to signs of instability such as roller balls, pinwheels, or sloppy snow.

Persistent/Deep Slabs - I've been digging holes and performing stability tests for two weeks and am finding very strong snow or dormant weak layers, and people have been going into pretty extreme terrain with impunity. But a careful analysis is always a prudent measure before jumping into any steep, extreme terrain with a northerly aspect.

Additional Information

Today will be a beautiful day in the mountains ahead of a weak system that will put us under cloudy skies with a sligh chance of snow Monday and Tuesday. High pressure returns on Wednesday.

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 24. West northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Monday

A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 30. Windy, with a northwest wind 15 to 25 mph increasing to 25 to 35 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph.

Monday Night

A 40 percent chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. Windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.

Tuesday

A 20 percent chance of snow before 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 23. Blustery, with a north northeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

General Announcements

Road Conditions: The road is plowed and mostly melted out down to the dirt.

Grooming: Trails were groomed on Friday and the tree has been removed.

To post an observation go here. You can view Moab observations here. You can also give me a call on my cell phone at 801-647-8896

To receive this advisory by email go here.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. 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 exist.

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