Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Moab Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Tuesday - March 21, 2017 - 7:05am
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The avalanche danger is generally LOW in the morning and mostly stable snow conditions exist on all aspects. With daytime heating, the danger for wet slide activity will rise to MODERATE, and backcountry travelers need to be alert to signs of instability such as roller balls, pinwheels, or sloppy wet snow up around their boot tops. Follow the sun and get off of exposed aspects if any of these signs are present. There is also an isolated or MODERATE danger for cornice fall. Give cornices a wide berth and stay out from under them, especially as the day heats up. Start early and end early, and as a general rule, plan to be out of avalanche terrain by around noon.




current conditions

Skies are mostly clear, and SW winds are averaging 20 mph along ridgetops. As has been the pattern, temps dropped to right around freezing on Pre Laurel Peak at 11,700', while 10,000' temps are in the low 40's. The marginal refreeze will provide a thin supportable surface today, but timing on softening will be somewhat unpredictable with breezy, and inreasingly cloudy conditions. It could go from frozen to slop rather quickly though slightly later than anticipted.

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
weather

Today look for increasing clouds and a chance for showers later in the day. High temps at 10,000' will be in the upper 40's. Mostly cloudy skies on Wednesday will herald the arrival of a Pacific storm system that looks like it will give us a decent shot of snow on Thursday.


general announcements


Road Conditions: The road to Geyser Pass Trailhead is down to the dirt and relatively dry to the Trans La Sal Trailhead. Above that it is muddy with occasional patches of snow. The last few hundred yards to the parking lot are pretty sloppy by mid-day.

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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.