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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
3/1/2024
Observer Name
Van Wetter
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Tele Heaven
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
La Sals were wearing their cloudy hat this morning. High winds near and above treeline scuttered them along quickly, and by early afternoon blue skies showed through broken clouds. Wind was consistent and persistent. Huge swaths of rocks and bare spots have appeared in the high peaks since last week.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
A few days of wind sure have done a number on the snow surface! While we found some soft snow in protected northfacing trees, we primarily skied different varieties of sastrugi.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
We encountered a 3-5" windslab on most aspects we traversed. It is a fairly cohesive crust sitting atop an unconsolidated graupel layer. We found collapsing and cracking on N and NE aspects near treeline.
Comments
A few days of wind have brought some energy back into the snowpack. A 3-5" windslab is sitting on top of unconsolidated, rounded graupel. We weren't able to get the windslab to move, but it was easy to bunch trhough and broke apart in cookies on the outside of ski turns. We experienced widespread collapsing and cracking near treeline.
Winds were strong near and above treeline. We didn't observe any snow transport, as I suspect that most transportable snow has already blown away. Large bare patches are appearing on south and southeast slopes and some desert dust is visible in Laurel's south bowl. Old ski and skin tracks are visible and raised above the bed surface.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates