Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills On-Snow Courses Resources and Tutorials
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Observation: Moab

Observation Date
3/21/2024
Observer Name
Van Wetter
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Talking Mountain Cirque
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
While we found soft snow on high north-facing aspects, lower elevations and S-W-E faces had a 2-4in breakable crust. No wind slabs were reactive, but we kicked dinner plate crust on high leeward slopes. Some near-surface faceting has formed and we had some good turns in noisy recrystalized snow.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Rapid Warming
Red Flags Comments
Wetslide debris 20-50' across and 300-500' in length was present on almost all westerlies, new since 5/20. Late afternoon warming will likely continue to produce pinwheels and wet slides in the coming days.
Comments
Much of Middle Cirque is getting tracked out, and we did our due diligence to put a few in Talking Mountain as well. We traversed around the compass and found melt-freeze and wind crusts, corn flake-sized near surface facets, and some good skiing on north-facing slopes. Wet slide debris evidenced late afternoon warming on west and southwest slopes.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Low
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Low
Coordinates