UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!
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Observation: Laurel Highway

Observation Date
3/10/2013
Observer Name
Chris Benson
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Laurel hwy
Weather
Sky
Few
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Orographics observed early in the day in the northern zone. Obvious summit.plumes on peaks and.ridges. Observed 6 + hours of continuous wind transport at.ridge top..loading southeast to south to southwest aspects from above treeline all the way to below TL... with 1' + deep drifts on the road.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
storm totals around 25 cm. hs in gold basin 152 cm. storm snow has been severely re distributed onto lee aspects, substantially farther down starting zones than usual. southerly aspects consisted of variable wind.slabs 10cm to 40 cm sitting on top of a mf crust..apparently bonding ok with mf crust.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Red Flags Comments
minimal avalanche activity... observed r1d2 in red snow cirque. minimal cracking and only 1-2 collapses. exceptional wind effect has scoured, pressed and deposited snow in a wide spread manner. significant wind loading occured throughout the day.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
se s and sw
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow