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Forecast for the Abajo Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath for
Saturday, December 10, 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

A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a west southwest wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Tonight

Snow likely, mainly after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Breezy, with a west wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday

A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 30. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

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