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Forecast for the Abajo Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath on
Sunday morning, March 19, 2017

The avalanche danger is generally LOW in the morning and mostly stable snow conditions exist in all aspects. With daytime heating, the danger for wet slide activity will rise to MODERATE, and backcountry travelers need to be alert to signs of instability such as roller balls, pinwheels, or sloppy wet snow up around their boot tops. Follow the sun and get off of exposed aspects if any of these signs are present. Start early and end early, and as a general rule, plan to be out of avalanche terrain by around noon.

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Special Announcements

The Abajo/Blue Mountain avalanche advisory will provide detailed information on the weekends. During the week, general information and a danger rating will be posted.

Weather and Snow

Skies are clear and SW winds are in the 10-15 mph range along ridge tops. It's 34 degrees on Abajo Peak and 41 at Camp Jackson. Spring time conditions are in effect. Supportable corn snow can be found in the mornings on SE-S-W aspects, though many of these areas are showing exposed ground. North facing aspects are either transitional, or wind affected dry snow.

I've seen very little wet avalanche activity through the warm spell of the past 10 days, and the snowpack is mostly stable. Nevertheless, it is good practice to be out of avalanche terrain by about noon under these conditions - earlier on slopes with an easterly component, and slightly later on those that face west - or if you feel the snow becoming sloppy, wet, or punchy.

Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

With daytime heating, the danger for loose, wet slide activity will increase. Be alert to signs of instability such as roller balls, pinwheels, or sloppy wet snow up around their boot tops. Follow the sun and get off of exposed aspects if any of these signs are present. Start early and end early, and as a general rule, plan to be out of avalanche terrain by around noon.

Additional Information

Today look for another sunny warm day with high temperatures at 10,000' to be around 50 degrees. SW winds will blow in the 15-20 mph range. Tonight we'll see a few clouds move in ahead of the first in a series of Pacific storm systems that will affect the area this week. We'll see a chance of showers developing on Monday, with our best chance for snow Wed-Fri.

General Announcements

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The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

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