Moab Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Dave Medara

BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

Click here to see the newly revised North American Avalanche Danger Scale.

Generally LOW avalanche danger exist in the mountains of SE Utah at this time. Dangers will rise on sunny side slopes with daytime heating over the next two days. Good skiing can be found on Northerly aspects and spring conditions should be on tap by the end of week on sunny side slopes. More snow on the way for the weekend.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

We had only an inch of new snow from the storm last night but cold temperatures and a few clouds today are going to slow down development of spring skiing conditions once again is SE Utah. Temperatures barely reached above freezing at lower mountain sites and stayed in the mid-teens at 11,700 ft. Not conditions conducive for spring skiing conditions. Tomorrow promises to be warmer, but with it may be Thursday before the good corn becomes harvestable, with yet another storm headed our way for Fri/Sat. Spring Corn enthusiasts take heart, barring another season of dust storms, the best skiing in the La Sals on a fat year like this is in May. Good powder skiing can still be found on DUENORTH facing slopes in open areas as well.

Roads to Mountain Trailheads haven't been cleared since the last storm but are in good shape. Packed out snow above 8500' is slippery so be prepared!

Matt Hebbard rolled the La Sal Nordic track again yesterday. Go Matt! Our second grooming machine has been fixed so we should finish out the season with some excellent cross-country skiing conditions. More grooming is planned for Wednsday.


RECENT ACTIVITY

Wet slide activity noted on sunny side slopes from warm temps Sunday. Nothing big.


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
No trend identified.

Expect the generally LOW avalanche danger to rise to MODERATE on sunny side slopes with daytime heating tomorrow. In areas with deeper deposition (likely East and SE facing slopes from west winds) the sluffs could entrain a fairly deep pile of debris at the bottom of a steep slope.


THREAT #2

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next ?? hours.

Persistent weak layers may still exist in the form of buried SURFACE HOAR layers. The primary layer deposited on Feb. 1 is buried 3.5 - 5 feet deep now and is unlikely to be triggered by the weight of a skier, however thinner snowpack areas and likely trigger points around rocks should still be avoided.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

National Weather Service Forecast for 10,000 Ft. :

Tonight:

Scattered snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Blustery, with a north northwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Wednesday:

A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday Night:

Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. North wind 5 to 15 mph becoming east southeast.

Thursday:

Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night:

Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. South wind around 10 mph.

Friday:

A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.

Friday Night:

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Saturday:

A chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 36.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

We would like to thank the hard working volunteers at the Friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. Without their help the center would not meet it's funding or staffing requirements. Thanks all! If you would like more information about donating to the Friends or simply helping out, click here..

This advisory will expire in 48 hours.

We cannot receive messages on our 259-SNOW line. If you would like to leave us an observation or a message, you my reach us at 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.