Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Wednesday - March 23, 2016 - 6:49am
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

An inch or two of new snow fell on the north side of the range while Camp Jackson is reporting zero on the south. Winds on Abajo Peak are westerly averaging 25 mph with gusts into the 30's. It's a frigid 6 degrees up there.

We need more than this to carry us through the spring. 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. Many south facing slopes have melted out entirely and grass and dry spots are appearing on other aspects as well.​ 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.
weather

Today

Isolated snow showers between 10am and 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 24. Windy, with a north northwest wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 35. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 24. West northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Friday Night

A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Breezy.

Saturday

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 27.

Saturday Night

A slight chance of snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 36.
general announcements

Let me know what you are seeing down there by posting an observation here.  You can also call me on my cell phone at 801-647-8896

To receive this advisory by email go here.

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done.  This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always exist.