Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Friday - December 16, 2016 - 7:30am
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I have issued an Avalanche Warning for the La Sal and Abajo Mountains. Strong winds and heavy snow have created a HIGH avalanche danger in upper elevation terrain, and human triggered and natural avalanche activity are likely in these areas. At mid elevations the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. Backcountry travelers today need to have excellent route finding and terrain selection skills. Stay off of and out from under steep avalanche prone terrain.




avalanche warning

THE FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER IN MOAB UTAH HAS ISSUED A BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING.

* TIMING…IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MST FRIDAY MORNING TO 6 AM MST SATURDAY

* AFFECTED AREA…MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEASTERN UTAH INCLUDING THE LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS

* AVALANCHE DANGER…THE AVALANCHE DANGER FOR THE WARNING AREA IS EXPECTED TO BE HIGH OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS

* IMPACTS…POTENTIAL HEAVY SNOW COMBINED WITH WIND WILL LIKELY CREATE WIDESPREAD AREAS OF UNSTABLE SNOW. BOTH HUMAN TRIGGERED AND NATURAL AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY. STAY OFF OF AND OUT FROM UNDER SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES
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current conditions

I don't have a lot of snow pack information from the Abajo Mountains. Camp Jackson is reporting 3" of new snow at around 9000' but I expect double that amount up high. Winds on Abajo peak have been southerly in the 20 mph range but with gusts to 50 mph. More snow and strong winds are in the forecast today. The new snow is falling on an extremely shallow, and potentially very weak snow pack. Rocks, stumps, and dead fall are prevalent everywhere.

weather

A large winter storm and strong cold front will move through the area later today and tonight. Ahead of the front, southwest flow will pick up keeping warm, above normal temperatures in the forecast for this afternoon. Widespread precipitation will occur with snow above 8,000 feet for the mountains and rainfall below thanks to these warm temperatures. These mild temperatures are playing games with the rain/snow line and are making for a very tricky and complicated forecast for elevations near and below 8000 feet. Some gusty winds and maybe even a few rumbles of thunder will also be possible this afternoon ahead of the front. Most of the precipitation is expected to end around midday Saturday. Snowfall amounts for the mountains will fall in the 1 to 2 foot range with some higher amounts possible. Valleys may see some snowfall as well after the front passes through with a few inches possible on Saturday.