Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains | utahavalanchecenter.org

Avalanche Advisory

Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains	Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Monday - March 21, 2016 - 6:50am

bottom line

Overall, the avalanche danger is generally LOW but unstable snow may exist on isolated terrain features, particularly in upper elevation, steep and radical terrain.

special announcement

The Abajo / Blue Mountain advisory provides detailed snow, mountain weather, and avalanche information on weekends. During the week, an overall danger rating will be provided with current condition information available through the weather links below.

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current conditions

It's spring in the Abajos and the snowline is creeping higher. Many south facing slopes are melted out entirely. Buckboard Flat still has a base depth of 30" and sheltered, north facing aspects have about 4' of coverage but between the wind, sun, and unusually dry February, and as of yet March, things are going fast. Most snow surfaces have some degree of melt freeze crust going on, and only the highest, northerly aspects hold any dry snow.

Winds, temperature and humidity on Abajo Peak.

Snow totals at Buckboard Flat.

Snow totals at Camp Jackson.

recent activity

Avalanche Problem 1

type	aspect/elevation	characteristics
		LIKELIHOOD LIKELY UNLIKELY SIZE LARGE SMALL TREND INCREASING DANGER SAME DECREASING DANGER over the next 24 hours
description The avalanche danger is mostly low at this time. But low danger doesn't mean no danger and areas of unstable snow may still exist on isolated terrain features. Here are problems to remain aware of: Wind Slabs: Isolated wind slabs may still exist on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain, primarily on slopes with a N-NE-E aspect. Persistent Slabs: It may still be possible to trigger a slab on weak sugary, faceted snow in areas of steep, rocky, and more extreme northerly facing terrain. Slide paths that are repeat runners are also suspect. Loose wet avalanches: Daytime heating can make the snow wet and sloppy and prone to avalanching. Look for signs off instability such as rollerballs, pinwheels, or wet sluffs sliding down the slope. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes when these signs are present.

type

aspect/elevation

characteristics

LIKELIHOOD

LIKELY

UNLIKELY

SIZE

LARGE

SMALL

TREND

INCREASING DANGER

SAME

DECREASING DANGER

over the next 24 hours

description

The avalanche danger is mostly low at this time. But low danger doesn't mean no danger and areas of unstable snow may still exist on isolated terrain features. Here are problems to remain aware of:

Wind Slabs: Isolated wind slabs may still exist on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain, primarily on slopes with a N-NE-E aspect.

Persistent Slabs: It may still be possible to trigger a slab on weak sugary, faceted snow in areas of steep, rocky, and more extreme northerly facing terrain. Slide paths that are repeat runners are also suspect.

Loose wet avalanches: Daytime heating can make the snow wet and sloppy and prone to avalanching. Look for signs off instability such as rollerballs, pinwheels, or wet sluffs sliding down the slope. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes when these signs are present.

weather

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Very windy, with a southwest wind 30 to 35 mph increasing to 40 to 45 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph.

Tuesday

A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Very windy, with a southwest wind 35 to 40 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday Night

A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 35 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.

Wednesday

A 40 percent chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 28. Windy.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 32.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Friday

A slight chance of snow after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.