Advisory: Moab Area Mountains | Issued by Max Forgensi for February 7, 2013 - 7:01am |
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bottom line The Bottom Line for today will be an Avalanche Danger of Moderate for persistent slabs on NE-N-E-SE slopes greater than 35 degrees at all elevations. Please carefully evaluate each slope before committing to a line. This forecast will be updated again on Saturday morning.
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special announcement Here's an observation from Thursday's Tour with Brian Hays. |
current conditions Clear skies and warming temperatures will be on tap for the mountains of southeast Utah for Thursday. The weather turns quickly as the next storm approaches from the northwest. By Friday, the chance of snow and thunderstorms increase and continue through the weekend. LUNA volunteers have been meticulously grooming the nordic loops and San Juan County has been on top of plowing the roads and trailheads. Skin tracks are set to all of the favorite backcountry locations. Coverage is pretty decent for early February. Both Camp Jackson and the Geyser Pass Winter TH SNOTELS hover around a 30" base while Gold Basin is around 44" (120 cm). Basin wide, southeast Utah is still below normal for snow water equivalent (SWE) for this time of year. The La Sals are 8% above normal while the Abajos are 26% below normal. As for skiing conditions, they are holding up surprisingly well. Observers report supportable boot top powder conditions on shady and sheltered locations across the range. Breakable crusts have formed on any slopes that have received direct sunlight and prolonged periods of solar gain. For those heading out Friday, go to our Mountain Weather Page to NOWCAST current weather conditions and snow totals. |
recent activity No avalanche activity to report. If you do see an avalanche or want to submit an observation, please go to the utahavalanchecenter.org's DETAILED INFO drop down menu and submit a Backcountry Observation. We would appreciate it! |
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description
Lets frame the avalanche problem today folks. There has not been any recent wind or snow events, so wind slabs will be very difficult to trigger and storm slabs are a non-issue. On shady aspects of the compass, a relatively shallow and cold snowpack rests on varying landscapes containing a myriad of trigger points and a snow structure that does contain the bed surface/weak layer/slab recipe for avalanche events. If you throw in a slope, unstable snow and a trigger (READ: YOU) into the equation, there is a chance of human caused avalanches across the range. Please be vigilant. Think about where you are skiing, what trigger points may be lurking under the snow surface and have an exit planned. Tomorrow is another day and that slope will still be there. |
weather Today: Sunny, with a high near 38. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. |
general annoucements The Friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center are an important partner to the Utah Avalanche Center-Moab. They assist by providing field observers, maintaining weather stations and purchase weather and safety equipment. Go to our partners website at www.moabavalanche.org to donate today. The Utah Avalanche Center-Moab is on Facebook! Get update and advisories by becoming a friend today. |