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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
1/3/2017
Observer Name
R. Kennard
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Laurel Ridge
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Cold day up on the ridge with temps in the single digits. Not a lot of wind to speak of, but it looked like the winds had been to work the previous day.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Good settled powder skiing could be found in the trees Tuesday afternoon, however anything that was exposed to Mondays winds was either scoured or had formed a hard wind slab. most tracks from the weekend were hard to make out, or had a reverse topography (tracks were sitting above the snow surface).
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
With high winds predicted with this next round of storms I would expect the danger for triggering an already existing wind slab to increase as the snow falls and adds weight to recently formed slabs. Their is a great detailed observation from Monday that you can check out about a skier triggered wind slab.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments
With the possible addition of feet of snow on top our complicated snow pack I would expect the avalanche danger to rise as the snow piles up.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable