Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Sunday - February 19, 2017 - 6:54am
bottom line

Today there is a MODERATE danger for wind slab avalanches in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain, primarily on slopes that face W-N-E. Fresh drifts along ridge crests will be sensitive to skiers and riders in these areas today. There is also a MODERATE danger for loose, dry sluffs, or soft slab avalanches within the storm snow on all aspects on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.




special announcement

The Abajo/Blue Mountain avalanche advisory will provide detailed information on the weekends. During the week, general information and a danger rating will be posted.

current conditions

Camp Jackson is reporting 4" of new snow this morning and I'd expect to find 6" up high. Southerly winds are currently blowing in the 15-20 mph range and it's 21 degrees on Abajo Peak and right around freezing at 9000'. In my travels Thursday day I found a mixed bag of conditions, with stout, melt freeze crusts on all aspects at lower elevations. The new snow will provide a welcome refresh but you will still feel the hard and variable surface underneath.

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

Newly formed wind slabs in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain will be your primary concern today. Expect to find them on the leeward sides of ridge crests and terrain features such as gully walls, and sub-ridges, on slopes that face W-N-E. Look for signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface, and avoid steep slopes with smooth, rounded deposits of wind drifted snow.

Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Today you may be able to trigger a long running, loose dry sluff, or soft cohesive slab within the storm snow on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. These should be small, and mostly predictable, but you'll want to put in a slope cut before committing to steeper terrain.

weather

We'll see a brief lull this morning before the next wave begins to affect our area just before noon. 3"-5" is possible today. Southerly ridge top winds will be in the 15-20 mph range, and high temperatures at 10,000' will be in the low 30's. Drier conditions return on Monday before the next in a series of systems moves into the area on Tuesday.

general announcements

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The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.