Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Tuesday - December 13, 2016 - 6:50am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW this morning but areas of unstable snow may exist on isolated terrain features, particularly in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain that has a N-NE-E aspect. Continue to practice safe travel techniques and evaluate suspect terrain for smooth, rounded deposits of wind drifted snow on the leeward sides of upper elevation ridge crests and terrain features.




special announcement

I'll be presenting a free Know Before You go avalanche awareness talk next Thursday, December 15, at the Grand County Library at 6:00 p.m. The presentation includes an exciting and educational video produced by the Utah Avalanche Center that has been chosen as an official selection in the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Following will be a powerpoint presentation, and a question and answer session on staying safe in the winter backcountry.Hope to see you there!

current conditions

With sunshine in the desert and temperatures in the low 50's, only the intrepid still had a taste for mountains and snow on Sunday. Reed Kennard was one such individual, and he sent in this report of his travels. Snow conditions have taken a turn for the worse over the past week, and most surfaces are now wind scoured or crusted. Some soft snow can still be found in sheltered areas and the base is still mostly supportable, but it's thin, and weeds, rocks and dead fall are becoming more apparent.

Westerly ridge top winds are blowing 15-20 mph and it's 14 degrees on Pre Laurel Peak and 25 at the Geyser Pass Trailhead. Base depth in Gold Basin is 25".

Storm totals and temperature in Gold Basin.(10,000')

Wind, temperature and humidity on Pre Laurel Peak.(11,700')

Snow totals, temperature and snow/water equivalent at the Geyser Pass Trailhead.(9600')


Reed took this shot at the top of the Funnel. The southwest facing aspect has been stripped by the wind.

Looking across into the high cirques of Gold Basin there are lots of rocks showing in the moraines.

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

The avalanche danger is generally low this morning but old, stiff wind slabs may exist on isolated terrain features, particularly in upper elevation, wind exposed terrain that has a N-NE-E aspect. Continue to practice safe travel techniques and evaluate suspect terrain for smooth, rounded, hollow sounding deposits of wind drifted snow on the leeward sides of upper elevation ridge crests and terrain features.

weather

Things will be relatively quite for a couple of days until another round of upper level disturbances come in off the Pacific spreading through the western U.S. later this week. A strong upper level jet will help drive the storms across eastern Utah and western Colorado late Tuesday and Wednesday and again over the upcoming weekend.

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 26. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday

A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. West southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Breezy.

Thursday

Snow likely, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night

Snow. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Breezy.

Friday

Snow. Cloudy, with a high near 28. Windy.

general announcements

The road to Geyser Pass Trailhead is plowed and clear but slick.

Grooming of cross country trails has commenced for the season and the lower meadow and road into Gold Basin was groomed on Thursday.