UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!
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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
11/25/2015
Observer Name
Trenbeath
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Pre Laurel Peak-Gold Basin
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
Southeast
Wind Speed
Strong
Weather Comments
Mostly cloudy and blustery day with relatively mild temperatures. Low 20's at 11,000' Near 30 at 10,000'
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Melt-Freeze Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

Snow surface is pretty tired and worn with a little bit of everything going on. Lot's of scouring up high, down to the rocks in places. Some surface faceting and re-crystalized powder developing in sheltered areas. Sun crusts on exposed aspects.

Scouring on easterly aspects along the Horse Creek ridge.

Down to the rocks on Laurel Peak.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Isolated, shallow, stiff wind slabs on the lee sides of terrain features,often adjacent to completely scoured areas. Winds were strong and erratic alternatley loading and scouring. Snowpack structure is slowly deteriorating. Nov10,11 snow has consolidated into a cohesive layer sitting on top of buried facets. The bottom 3-4" is developing depth hoar.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

Isolated, stiff, shallow wind slabs exist on the lee sides of terrain features in exposed terrain on nearly all aspects due to the strong and erratic winds. Primary areas of concern are down below the ridges, beneath rock bands on slopes with NE-NW aspects, where enough snow has been deposited to create wider slabs.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #2 Comments

Snow pack structure continues to deteriorate with depth hoar, and clearly defined mid-level facet layer beneath the Nov 10,11 storm.

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