Abajos
Lawinengefahr
Kernpunkte
Dangerous avalanche conditions are developing in the Abajo Mountains and the danger is expected to reach HIGH sometime today or tonight. Backcountry travelers need to have excellent route finding skills and know how to avoid avalanche terrain. This means staying off of and out from under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
Avalanche Warning
THE FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER IN MOAB HAS ISSUED A BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH.
* TIMING…IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MST THIS MORNING TO 6 AM MST SATURDAY
* AFFECTED AREA…FOR THE LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEASTERN UTAH
* AVALANCHE DANGER…DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS ARE DEVELOPING
* IMPACTS…A STRONG STORM SYSTEM ON FRIDAY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE AVALANCHE DANGER WITH DANGEROUS CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND. NATURAL AND HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. STAY OFF OF AND OUT FROM UNDER SLOPES STEEPER THAN 30 DEGREES.
Snow and Weather
Up to a foot of snow containing 1.0" of water weight has fallen overnight. A warm atmospheric river will continue to feed moisture into the region with heavy snowfall expected through the day. Winds from the SW will blow in the 15-20 mph range along ridge tops, and high temps will be in the upper 20's. Snowfall should continue through tonight with 12"-18" possible when it's all said and done. Light showers may linger into tomorrow with sunny skies on Sunday. Another system is shaping up for mid-week.
Today, look for increasing avalanche danger on all aspects as the new snow piles up. The new snow will also begin to stress buried persistent weak layers again increasing the likelihood for deeper and much more dangerous avalanche on steep, northerly aspects. All avalanche terrrain should be avoided today.
NWS forecast for the Abajo Mountains.
Snow totals and temps at Buckboard Flat (8924')
Snow totals and temps at Camp Jackson (8858')
General Announcements
This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.