Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Tuesday - March 3, 2015 - 7:21am
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Today there is a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger in the mountains of Southeastern Utah which means that human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible. This danger applies to both recently formed wind slabs, and deeper persistent slabs. Back country travelers are urged to use extreme caution by choosing only the most conservative routes and avoiding steep avalanche terrain.




special avalanche bulletin

I have dropped the avalanche warning for the mountains of SE Utah but dangerous avalanche conditions still remain. Backcountry travelers are advised to make conservative route choices and avoid avalanche terrain. 
current conditions

La Sal Mountains

Gold Basin received close to a foot of snow and about an inch and a half of water in the past 24 hours. Snowfall was very elevation dependent with ony 6-8" falling at the Geyser Pass Trailhead. SW winds howled all day yesterday averaging 30-40 mph and gusting into the 60's. They started to back off around midnight last night and are currently averaging 10-15 mph from the WNW. Temperatures have also been steadily dropping and it is currently 19 degrees at the Geyser Pass trailhead and 9 on Pre Laurel Peak.

La Sal Mountains Current Weather

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.

Abajo / Blue Mountains

The Abajos picked up about 6" in the past 24 hours. Snow cover in the range is still very thin. "Spatial variability" is the key term. This means you can find snow up to four feet deep on on a sheltered, northerly aspect while a more exposed, adjacent slope will still be showing rocks and grass. ESE winds on Abajo Peak were quite a bit more tame yesterday, averaging 15-20 mph with an occasional gust that shot through the roof near 50. They are almost non existent this morning.

Abajo / Blue Mountains Current Weather

Winds and temperature on Abajo Peak.

Snow total at Buckboard Flat.
recent activity
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

With plenty of snow available for transport transport and yesterday's strong southwesterly winds, recent wind slab development will be a major concern today. Signs should be obvious. Suspect any area with smooth, rounded pillows of wind drifted snow and be alert to signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface and collapsing of the snowpack. A new wind slab triggered will also have the potential to step down into weaker buried layers creating a much larger and more dangerous persistent slab avalanche. Today remains a day to stay off of and out from under slopes of about 30 degrees in steepness.


Accumulated snow over the past 10 days sheered off of buried facets that developed on the old snow surface during the February high pressure. Expect this layer to be reactive today with the potential for slides to step down into deeper weak layers.

Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Several weak layers exist in the snow pack, and this new round of snow, and especially wind transported snow, will provide enough of a load to re-awaken the potential for deep and dangerous, persistent slab avalanches. This danger is most prevalent right around, and just above tree line on steep rocky slopes that face the north half of the compass.


Snow pit illustrates buried weak layers within the snowpack.
weather

Most of the energy in the last wave of this storm is passing to our north. Though it is already clear over the desert, clouds should linger over the mountains today with possibly some light snow showers off and on throughout the day. High temps at 10,000' will be in the mid 20's with westerly ridge top winds averaging 15-20 mph with gusts as high as 40. Then things begin to dry out with the old familiar ridge developing by the weekend.

general announcements

Road Conditions: The road was plowed yesterday.

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

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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.