Forecast for the Abajo Area Mountains
Saturday morning, December 3, 2016
Due to low snow cover, the avalanche danger is LOW in the Abajo Mountains. The snow pack is very shallow and weak at this time, and future snow loads will cause the danger to increase.
Weather and Snow
Snow cover in the Abajo Mountains is still quite thin and there isn't enough snow to recreate on beyond the road. The storm last week brought the first significant snow laying down about a foot in the upper elevations on top of about 6" of existing snow. There is only a few inches of snow on the ground at the trailheads and in the lower elevations.
Forest Service volunteer Chris Jacobson tops out at North Creek Pass. Pretty low snow up there.
On the backside near Robinson Pasture. Snow here was even thin on the road so we turned around.
Wind, temperature and humidity on Abajo Peak.
Snow totals at Camp Jackson.
Normal Caution
Description
There isn't currently enough snow to pose much of an avalanche danger, but of note is the current snow pack structure. The weak shallow now is already deteriorating, and this doesn't bode well for future snow loads.
Chris Jacobson digs out weak, faceted grains, or "sugar snow" out from the bottom of the existing shallow snow pack. This makes an unstable base for future snow loads.
Additional Information
Today
Snow showers likely, mainly after noon. Patchy blowing snow between 10am and 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 22. Blustery, with a west southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tonight
Snow showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 13. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of snow before 11am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 20. Blustery, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 23. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 22.
Thursday Night
A slight chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.
Friday
A chance of snow, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21.