Introduction:
Good Morning, this is Max Forgensi with the THE AMERICAN INSTITUE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND
EDUCATION (AIARE) LEVEL II CLASS IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 3RD-6TH. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AIARE, TOM
MURPHY, WILL BE ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS AT THIS CLASS. THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
LEARN FROM THE MAN HIMSELF. CALL
(435) 636-3363 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP. THERE ARE STILL A FEW SPOTS AVAILABLE. To see past advisories check out the ARCHIVE. To see current conditions go to our WEATHER PAGE. To see photos go to the AVIPHOTOS page. Hey
backcountry users, WE NEED YOUR HELP! Click HERE to give us your
observations…ANY OBSERVATIONS!
Do you know how great it would be to get observations from people that
travel to different parts on the mountain range than us? |
General Conditions: Snow in
the Moab valley! 1” of snow is
greeting us this morning in the valley.
0.20” of water has fallen in the La Sal Mountain’s which translates
into at least two inches, maybe as much as four inches of snow at the Geyser
Pass Trailhead. You can expect a
little more snow as you move upward in elevation. The winds have stayed light out of the West-Westsouthwest,
averaging between 11 and 14 mph over the past 24 hours.
Nordic and skate skiing conditions will be fresh today and so will the
backcountry skiing conditions. A
little new snow goes a long way.
The best locations for skiing will be in wind/sun sheltered North
aspects below treeline. On
southerly aspects you will be skiing on top of the sun crusts with that dust
on crust feeling. Above
treeline, this new snow will be just enough to cover some major ground
hazards, skiing above treeline will be marginal at best.
The road up to the trailhead has yet to be plowed this morning. Expect the plows to get up by
noon. 4WD is recommended this
morning. Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)
Presidents' Day: Scattered snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a
high around 18. West northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high
as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS):
in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
6:00 a.m. Temp (F) |
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
27’’/68 cm |
2”-4” |
17 |
11 degrees at 7:00 am |
|
Geyser Pass |
50”/130 cm |
n/a |
N/a |
~ |
|
38”/96cm |
4+” |
N/a |
|
N/a |
N/a |
2.4 degrees @ 7 |
@ 7:00 am: Winds 8 mph, g 15 from WSW |
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the International
Avalanche Danger Scale here) 0.20” of
water in the past 24 hours and generally light winds in the same time period
is not really changing the avalanche danger. There is more snow to blow around and develop slabs yes,
but the lack of transport wind, either observed and forecasted is not
allowing slabs to develop…currently.
The new snow is covering some isolated wind slabs above treeline and
the snow conditions is quite variable over very small distances. In order for a large avalanche cycle
to flush out the weak and variable snowpack structure we are going to need a
large snow cycle. This storm
will not have enough punch to do the job. The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an avalanche danger of MODERATE on at or
above treeline with small wind slabs on slopes greater than 35 degrees. These wind slabs will either be
cross-loaded or found near the tops of slopes and ridges. |