Abajos

The avalanche danger remains HIGH in the Abajo/Blue Mountains. Deep and dangerous natural and human triggered avalanches are LIKELY. Avalanches may be triggered from a distance. Avoid being on or under slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

These are very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

THE FOREST SERVICE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER IN MOAB HAS ISSUED AN AVALANCHE WARNING FOR THE ABAJO/BLUE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST UTAH.

*TIMING...6 AM MST FRIDAY THROUGH 6 AM MST SATURDAY.

*AFFECTED AREA...THE ABAJO/BLUE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST UTAH

*AVALANCHE DANGER...THE AVALANCHE DANGER REMAINS HIGH.

*REASON/IMPACTS...HEAVY SNOWFALL HAS OVERLOADED PRE EXISTING WEAK LAYERS IN THE SNOWPACK CREATING DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS. NATURAL AND HUMAN TRIGGERED AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY.

Another 10" of snow at 1.2" of Snow Water Equivalent has fallen at Camp Jackson bringing us up to about 2' of new snow and almost 3.0" of water weight since Wednesday. Light snowfall will continue today with another 1"-2" possible. Winds will blow form the WSW in the 10-20 mph range. Saturday will be mostly cloudy with a chance of snow.

All of this new snow has overloaded buried persistent weak layers in the snowpack creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Avalanches can be triggered from a distance. Backcountry travelers should avoid all avalanche terrain. This includes being on or underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

NWS forecast for the Abajo Mountains.

Snow totals and temps at Buckboard Flat (8924')

Snow totals and temps at Camp Jackson (8858')

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.