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Forecast for the Abajo Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath for
Sunday, December 11, 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.

Low
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Considerable
High
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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

We'll see some lingering clouds and a chance of precipitation, possibly in the form of freezing rain today as the current system exits the area. On Monday there will be a lull in the "action" before an unsettled pattern returns with the possibility of snow starting late Tuesday and extending through the weekend.Today

Today

Snow likely, possibly mixed with freezing rain before 8am, then a chance of freezing rain between 8am and 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Monday

Partly sunny, with a high near 32. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday

A 20 percent chance of snow after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Breezy.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 37.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Breezy.

Thursday

A chance of snow before 10am, then a chance of rain and snow between 10am and 2pm, then a chance of snow after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Breezy.

Thursday Night

Snow likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Breezy.

Friday

Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Breezy.

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