Moab Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Dave Medara

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Sledders!! Don't block the road at the sled hill. Keep your belongings and car doors out of the travel lanes. It's a road, not your living room. I can't believe I have to say this. The Forest Service has had many complaints, and THE AREA AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLED HILL MAY BE CLOSED TO PARKING IF INCIDENTS THERE CONTINUE. Don't blow it. Tell someone else and get this area sorted.


BOTTOM LINE

Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)


Danger Rose Tutorial

Great snow conditions on re-crystallized powder on Mid-elevation slopes can be found but as you poke out above treeline, expect some wind damage. Small wind pockets that could release under the weight of a skier can also be found poking around at elevation as well. We are calling the avalanche danger MODERATE on E-NE-NW facing slopes at and above treeleine. Expect a LOW avalanche danger elsewhere. It looks like corn skiing will have to wait with incoming coud cover and potential snow


CURRENT CONDITIONS

Warm, sunny days. Stable conditions, Good snow on mid and low elevation E - N - NE - NW facing slopes. Well behaved winds. As an added bonus, when you're done you can drive down to Moab and swing in the hammock or work in your garden which has just started to wake up from it's winter slumber. Sound good? It's recommended. 96% of normal in the La Sals, 114% in the Abajos. Not bad. More snow on the way possibly next week.

Roads to Geyser Pass and Dark Canyon trailheads are plowed.

LUNA groomed into Geyser Pass Road, Gold Basin and the Lower Nordic loops are groomed. The southern part of the Upper Nordic loop has also been groomed. Good Job groomers!


RECENT ACTIVITY

Nothing of late except wet point releases due to daily warming.

If you see an avalanche, experience a collapse or a whumpf, have anything interesting to pass on, or just want to spray about the ski conditions, let us know here. ANYobservations are very helpful.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 48 hours.

Link to the U.S. Avalanche danger scale here: utahavalanchecenter.org/education/dangerscale

With all the winds we've had early last week it's not surprising to hear about variable conditions up high. We're about 6 days out from our last snow and the snowpack has had plenty of time to adjust to it's latest load. Things seem pretty quiet out there in the mountains of SE Utah. Checking the snowpack you will find upper level weaknesses in snowpit profiles with a relatively strong mid-pack. Some of these upper level weak layers may be heard from if and when we get some new snow. For now these weaknesses, buried near surface facets and Surface Hoar don't seem to be much of a problem. Watch for localized wind pockets on E-NE-NW facing slopes steeper than 35 degrees that could release under the weight of a skier.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 8 hours.

Watch for afternoon wet slides at lower elevations on the sunny side slopes. Even with some small storms forecast to for our mountains, the temperatures are still expected to be quite warm. Loose wet slides and potentially larger wet slabs are possible in the afternoon after things warm up. Expect the hazard posed by these glop-monsters to be greatly increased IF we do not have a freeze overnight. Get off wet slopes when crusts become unsupportable.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

Mountain Weather for SE Utah at 10,000 ft:

Today: Cloudy, with a high near 44. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 25. South southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Monday: A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 39. South southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Monday Night: Snow likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible. Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lost at Geyser Pass Trailhead. Black Life LInk ski poles with red baskets. If found please call 435-636-3363


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 occur.


This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:

The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list.