Join us at our 2nd Annual Blizzard Ball
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 Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
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
1/30/2021
Observer Name
Travis Nauman
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Prelude
Weather
Sky
Scattered
Precipitation
Light Snowfall
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
An incredible powder day with intermittent sun and clouds and a couple flurries. Not much wind!
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
12"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Got 10-12" of new medium density snow last night - beautiful! We were still punching through the previous storm snow here and there when breaking track, but we were able to stay on top when skiing. Depth ranged from 40-120 cm depending on aspect, wind loading, etc. Lots of facets down there whereever old snow persists.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Wind Loading
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
We had multiple large whoomphs on all aspects today. This snow pack is weak and primed to slide. There were several avalanches on Tukno and observers right of the Exxon Folly snaggletooth area. We dug a pit on a WNW aspect to see how bad it was and found that the bottom 74cm of the 122cm snowpack was facets. We had a sudden planar ECTP 13 result on the interface between last weeks storm and the old faceted snow. Nothing you want to be on top of in avalanche terrain right now.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Decreasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Although the new snow was still pretty soft for us and wasn't really cohesive enough to form a slab, but others reported that it was reactive. With 0.6" of new water weight on a weak snowpack the new snow is probably stressing all the stuff underneath right now. The wind died off at midnight yesterday and we didn't come across much wind loading, but it was definitely evident up higher in the alpine and probably triggered the activity on Tukno. Our pit featured an old wind slab that was reactive, and I think this is probably more of a problem than the new snow.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
As has been reported, anywhere with old snow has facets and they are reactive right now. We observed many layers of facets in our snowpit.
Snow Profile
Aspect
Northwest
Elevation
11,300'
Slope Angle
29°
Comments
Avalanche on Tukno
It looked like the Tukno slide also took most of Tele Gold with it.
Nice reactive and upside down snowpack
12" of new. 44" total at Gold Basin plot
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates