Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Wednesday - January 25, 2017 - 8:01am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE in upper elevation, wind drifted terrain and human triggered avalanches are likely. The danger will be greatest on slopes that have a NW-N-SE aspect, but drifting snow and freshly formed wind slabs will be found on all aspects in the wind zone. There is also a CONSIDERABLE danger at mid elevations on steep slopes that face NW-N-SE. Low elevation terrain and slopes that face the south side of the compass have a MODERATE danger.
special announcement

Road Conditions: Grand County pushed through one lane up to the trailhead on Monday and the road is passable.

Backcountry 101 Avalanche Class

We will be offering a Backcountry 101 avalanche class on Feb 3, 4. This course will include a night classroom session and a day in the field. Cost is $125 with proceeds to benefit the Utah Avalanche Center Moab. For more information or to sign up go here.
current conditions

Heavy snowfall and strong winds have created areas of deep drifted snow, alternating with scoured zones and thick wind crusts. All told, the mountains have received 40" of snow above 10,000' since last Thursday night. Winds on Monday averaged 30-40 mph for several hours with regular gusts over 70. Use the links below for current wind, snow totals, and temperature.

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

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

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

On Saturday, a party remotely triggered this avalanche on a north facing slope at 10,400'. The avalanche likely failed on buried near surface facets under the load of new storm snow, eventually stepping down to deeper faceted layers around rocks.


Photo courtesy of James "Jimbo" Collins who was out flying around.

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

Strong winds, heavy snowfall, have caused deep wind slabs to form on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features. The danger will be greatest on slopes facing the north half of the compass, but with so much snow blowing around, wind slabs will have formed on all aspects wherever terrain features are able to capture drifting snow.

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

Heavy snowfall and wind loading have increased the stress on buried weak layers within the snowpack. Avalanches initiated within the new snow now have the potential to step down into these buried weak layers. In some cases this could mean stepping down to buried near surface facets that formed prior to the beginning of this last storm cycle. In other cases, it could mean stepping down to weak, faceted snow near the ground. You are most likely to encounter this type of situation in steep, rocky, heavily featured terrain where the underlying snowpack is still relatively shallow.

weather

Today

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 21. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. West northwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 19. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 5. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 22. North northeast wind around 10 mph.

Friday Night
general announcements

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Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you sign up for AmazonSmile and designate the Utah Avalanche Center as your favorite charity, they will donate a portion of everything you spend to the UAC. I doesn't cost you a penny and we'd really appreciate the help.​

The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.