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Forecast for the Abajo Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath for
Friday, December 9, 2016

Due to low snow cover, the avalanche danger is generally LOW in the Abajo Mountains. Be alert to areas of wind drifted snow at upper elevations along leeward ridge crests and terrain features. The snow pack is very shallow and weak at this time, and future snow loads will cause the danger to increase.

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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. 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.

Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

There isn't currently enough snow to pose much of an avalanche danger, but be alert to wind drifted snow along leeward ridge crests and terrain features at upper elevations. 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

Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of snow after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night

Snow likely, mainly after 11pm. Areas of blowing snow after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Windy, with a west southwest wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday

Snow likely, mainly before 11am. Areas of blowing snow before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 31. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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