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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
2/15/2020
Observer Name
Kennard
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Horse Creek
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
West
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
We went for a tour up Horse Creek today to have a look around and see what had snow on it and what had been blasted clean by the winds we have received over the past couple weeks. We had moderate winds out of the west and a mostly overcast skies with temps in the upper 20's.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Highly variable conditions exist across the range right now. Sunny aspects have a melt freeze crust, anywhere exposed to the winds we have had are either firm or zipper crust, north facing sheltered areas have some decent settled powder as well as some small surface facets and some south faces are coming close to corning up. Decent skiing exists in sheltered areas but it is becoming hard to find. Hopefully we move out of this dry spell we have been in soon.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Right now we are in a period of normal caution. The snow pack seems stable however extreme terrain should be approached with caution. Even a small pocket of snow released in the wrong spot could take you for a nasty ride. If we get a load of new snow on top what is out there expect avalanche conditions to change quickly as the weak surface snow becomes a buried weak layer.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Normal Caution
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The dry spell we have been in has created some weak snow that will become a buried weak layer once we get a refresh. Not much of a concern now but something to watch in the future.
Comments
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low