Moab Avalanche Advisory

Forecaster: Dave Medara

AVALANCHE WARNING »

Dangerous avalanche conditions are occuring or are imminent. Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Notice:

A foot of high-density new snow has fallen with high winds in the Abajo Mountains creating dangerous conditions for backcountry travelers. Natural and Human triggered avalanches are likely through the weekend. Backcountry travel in or near avalanche terrain is not advised.

This warning will expire at 9:00 am today but that does not mean avalanche dangers will cease to exist.


BOTTOM LINE

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


Danger Rose Tutorial

High or Level 4 avalanche danger can be expected in the Abajo Mountains with about a foot of high density new snow being measured at 8600 feet.

Considerable or Level 3 avalanche danger can be expected in the La Sal Mountains where up to 5 inches of the dense stuff has been measured. 9" of new snow has fallen in the La Sals since last Thursday.

High winds from the south have accompanied snowfall in both the Abajo and La Sal ranges and much drifting has occurred on downwind slopes. Let's keep it safe out there this holiday weekend! Ski and ride one at a time. Avoid avalanche slopes and runout zones.


CURRENT CONDITIONS

The Abajos ended up with 11 inches of snow containing two inches of water to come up the winner in this last storm to roll through S. Utah. The La Sals Measured 2- 5 inches with similar high densities and plenty of Southwest and South winds .With 9 - 13 inches of new snow measured in SE Utah since last Thursday, powder conditions will be on tap. It's cold out there this morning folks, and south winds continue to blow. Trailhead temperatures in the La Sals is 8 degrees F, 9 degrees in the Abajos. Check your partners for frostbite this morning!

With the lighter snow totals in the La Sals, people are making it to the Geyser Pass Trailhead. Expect drifting and snowy conditions on all access roads in SE Utah until plow crews get out on Tuesday.

Grooming on the La Sal Nordic system is scheduled for Tuesday


RECENT ACTIVITY

Burn-off ridge roadcut produced a large human-triggered slide up to 2.5 feet deep and 150 - 200 feet wide Saturday. This is a result of wind loading and happened BEFORE the bulk of our new snow came in. Remember, the #1 indicator of potential avalanche danger is new avalanches...Check out a photo here.

You can submit photos and snowpack or avalanche observations here. Send 'em in!!


THREAT #1

WHERE PROBABILITY SIZE TREND
      Over the next 48 hours.

High Avalanche Danger will still be found in the Abajo Mountains where up to 2 inches of water has been measured in the last storm. This snow fell in 11 inches of high density (read: slab forming) snow onto very weak old snow. This danger will be slow to decline with persistent weak layers forming the old snow/new snow interface. Continued south and southeast winds will continue to exacerbate this problem on north facing slopes. It's a holiday weekend out there folks, let's play it safe out there.

2-5 inches of new snow have been measured in the La Sals with 3 tenths to 8 tenths of an inch of water in it. Combined with the 4 inches of new snow we had last Thursday, there is a lot of snow available for transport in the La Sals, plenty of wind, and weak old snow structures also. Expect to find CONSIDERABLE avalanche dangers in the La Sals, with the highest danger along mid and upper elevation E-NE-NWfacing slopes. Keep an eye on West facing slopes today as well, with SE Winds forecast to come up.


MOUNTAIN WEATHER

NOAA MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE LA SALS @10,000FT:

Washington's Birthday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west southwest. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. West southwest wind around 10 mph becoming south southeast. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 10 and 20 mph. Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph. Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. South southwest wind around 15 mph. Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 15. Thursday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy and windy, with a high near 30. Thursday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy and windy, with a low around 13. Friday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a high near 28. Friday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Saturday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27.


GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

We will update this message Wednesday morning.

If you see an avalanche or would like to share any snowpack observations (please do!) you can call us at 435-636-3363, e-mail Dave at : dave@utahavalanche center.org, or use the backcountry observations form here. These observations really help!


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.