Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Monday - March 7, 2016 - 6:39am
bottom line

Today there is a MODERATE avalanche danger for recently deposited wind slabs on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain. Look for signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface, and characteristic smooth rounded pillows of freshly drifted snow.




special announcement

Check out the Banff Mountain Film Festival at Grand County High School tonight, March 7, and Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m. Buy tickets for $10 in advance at Back of Beyond Bookstore, 83. N. Main St., Canyon Voyages Adventure Co., 211 N. Main St., Pagan Mountaineering, 59 S. Main St., and Poison Spider Bicycles, 497 N. Main St.or $15 at the door. Procedes benefit the Utah Avalanche Center Moab, and Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitaiton.

current conditions

Gold Basin is reporting about 6" of new snow this morning with 3" at Geyser Pass Trailhead with most of it coming in after midnight. With light rain falling in town, this morning, we may see a couple more inches before it's all said and done. Blustery, SW winds averaged 25 mph with gusts into the 40's along ridge tops yesterday. They backed off a bit around midnight and currently averaging 15-20 mph with gusting to near 30. Winter time temperatures have returned and it's 12 degrees on Pre Laurel Peak and 26 at the Geyser Pass Trailhead.

Winds, temperature and humidity on Pre-Laurel Peak

New snow totals, temperature and humidity in Gold Basin

Total snow depth and temperature at Geyser Pass Trailhead
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

Today you will need to be on the lookout for recently deposited wind slabs on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain. The underlying snow surface is slick and hard, so even a shallow wind slab could have the potential to sweep you off your feet or carry over a rock band. Look for signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface, and characteristic smooth rounded pillows of freshly drifted snow.

weather

The storm is working its way northeasterly and cold air has spilled into the region. Lingering moisture may bring us a couple more inches of snow, mainly before noon. The northern branch of a splitting trough will clip through our region on Tuesday, followed by a weak ridge building for the remainder of the week. By late next weekend, southwest flow sets up again with another series of short wave troughs moving in off the west coast.

Today

Snow showers, mainly before 2pm. Patchy fog before 11am. High near 25. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tonight

A 10 percent chance of snow showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight.

Tuesday

A 10 percent chance of snow showers after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. North wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. North wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 31. Northwest wind around 15 mph.
general announcements

Road Conditions: Most of the snow fell above the Geyser Pass trailhead. The road should be mostly frozen dirt this morning with perhaps an inch or two of new snow on it above the Trans La Sal trailhead. 

Grooming: Trails have not been groomed recently. 

To post an observation go here.  You can view Moab observations here. You can also give me a call on my cell phone at 801-647-8896

To receive this advisory by email go here.

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 exist.