Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Saturday - January 10, 2015 - 6:42am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW at this time but low danger doesn't mean no danger. It still may be possible to trigger a persistent slab on a steep, upper elevation slope with a NW-N-E aspect, particularly in rocky areas that have a thin snowpack.




special announcement

The Grand County Winter Search and Rescue Team will be conducting a training session near the Geyser Pass Trailhead today. Classic Helicopters may also fly in for an on the snow landing scenario. This will take place in the second meadow above the trailhead.

current conditions

Temperatures over night have been in the 20's allowing for a good solid refreeze in the snowpack. Snow surface conditions are a variety of hard and breakable sun and wind crusts. The strong sun and warm temperatures of the past week have melted some sun exposed slopes back down to the ground and in general, things are looking pretty worked over out there.

Wind speeds and temperature at 11,700' on Pre-Laurel Peak.

New snow totals and temperature at Geyser Pass Trailhead.

New snow totals and temperature in Gold Basin.

On Thursday, Brian Murdock and I poked around near Burro pass we ran across a couple of older slab avalanches that likely occurred during the December 31, southeast wind event. Up to 4' deep, they certainly involved old snow, starting as a wind slab and then stepping down into our persistent weak layers. For details and photos click here.

Thanks to everyone who has been posting recent observations. You can post new observations here.

Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Though conditions are generally stable at this time, Low danger doesn't mean no danger. It still may be possible to trigger a persistent slab on a steep, upper elevation slope with a NW-N-E aspect, particularly in rocky areas that have a thin snowpack.

weather

Clouds will begin creeping into our area ahead of a weak, upper level trough that will move over Southeastern Utah later today. High temperatures at 10,000' will be in the low to mid 30's and winds will be light and southwesterly. Best chance for snow will be tonight into early Sunday with 3-5" possible. Another weak system will affect our area Monday into Tuesday with conditions again drying out later in the week.

general announcements


Road Conditions: The road is plowed.

Grooming Conditions: Trails were groomed on Friday and this could be the best game in town right now.

Observations: If you are out and about, I would love to know what you are seeing. Please post your observations here.

EMAIL ADVISORY  If you would like to get the daily advisory by email you will need to subscribe here.​ 

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you shop from Backcountry.com or REI:  Click this link for Backcountry.com or this link to REI, shop, and they will donate a percent of your purchase price to the UAC.  Both offer free shipping (with some conditions) so this costs you nothing!

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on ebay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your ebay account here and click on ebay gives when you buy or sell.  You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny.

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 exist. This advisory will be updated on Saturday, January 3 or sooner if conditions warrant.