UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!
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Observation: Middle Cirque

Observation Date
12/27/2013
Observer Name
Trenbeath
Region
Moab » Gold Basin » Middle Cirque
Location Name or Route
Gold Basin into Lone Pine
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northeast
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Light winds during the day from the NE, higher the night before, in the 20's with gusts to 30. High temps during the day in the high 20's.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Faceted Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Full gamete of snow surface conditions. Wind etching and crust development on exposed northerly aspects, and sun crusts on southerlies. Faceted loose snow and re-crystallized powder on sheltered, shady slopes.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Snowpack structure on northerly aspects ranges from stratified, with loose snow and wind crusts near the surface, and layers of buried surface hoar, mid pack facets and crusts, and developing depth hoar at the ground, to areas where the entire pack has been taken over by the faceting process. All in all, extremely weak.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Persistent slabs remain on NW-NE aspects at upper-mid to upper elevations.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate