Avalanche forecast

Moab

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Highlights

There is a MODERATE avalanche danger on many steep slopes facing W-N-E. Human-triggered avalanches, potentially 2 feet deep or more, are possible and may fail on a buried persistent weak layer of faceted snow. The highest risk is on steep northerly slopes near treeline.

On slopes that face SW-S-SE you will find LOW avalanche danger and dust on crust conditions. The new snow is poorly bonded to slick crusts on these slopes, look out for loose snow sluffs in steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    A persistent weak layer problem remains on many slopes that face W-N-E. A week of very warm temperatures has helped to strengthen our snowpack, but there is still a real chance for large avalanches failing on faceted layers buried deeply in the pack. The threat is greatest on steep northerly aspects near treeline, but below treeline slopes also have poor snowpack structure. Conservative travelers will continue to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees where this structure exists.

Special Announcement

Construction on the La Sal Loop Road will be starting up again with closures above Pack Creek between 8:30-5:30 Monday through Friday.

The Utah Avalanche Center is excited to host Mountainfilm on Tour in Moab at Star Hall on 3/21 and 3/22. Click here for tickets and information.

We are happy to announce the launch of our new mobile application available on both Android and IOS. Get all the information you need to plan your backcountry adventure and keep the information at the tip of your fingers while you are out. Install the Android version here and the IOS version here.

Geyser Pass Road: Four inches of new snow fell on the Geyser Pass Road yesterday. 4x4 recommended.

Grooming Conditions: Trails have not been recently groomed and have 4 inches of new snow.

Recent Activity

See the avalanche database here.

Snow and Weather

6 A.M. Snow and Weather Data

24 Hour Snow: 4" 72 Hour Snow: 4" Season Total Snow: 86" Depth at Gold Basin: 40"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: N/A Temp: 19° F Percent of Normal (SWE): 70%

Weather

Pre Laurel Peak wind station and the Gold Basin storm stake are down as we install upgrades including a web cam to the site.

Northwest winds overnight were in the 10-20 MPH range. Winds will remain northwesterly today and average 15 MPH with gusts up to 25 MPH. High temperatures will reach the upper 20s° F. The La Sals remain under a northwest flow this morning, skies will be partly cloudy with a chance for light flurries around lunch time. No additional accumulation is expected today. High pressure slides in from the west on Wednesday, providing a brief break in the action. Wednesday night into Thursday the next Pacific system drops into the Great Basin. Under southwest flow we will see a good chance for heavy mountain snow. I'll have more of the details sorted out by tomorrow morning.

General Conditions

Four inches of new snow fell at the Gold Basin stake yesterday, with maybe another inch up high. The new snow is a much needed refresh for the range. Many slopes were crusted over after the unseasonably warm temperatures and sunny skies. You will find dust on crust conditions and low danger on the sunny slopes. The new snow is poorly bonded to the underlying crusts, look out for shallow sluffs if you happen to be getting into steep terrain. Four inches of low density snow will not affect our current persistent weak layer problem. Some slopes have started to go isothermal, but a cold, weak, and shallow snowpack exists on many slopes on the north half of the compass. A well connected slab remains on top of this weak structure, and human triggered avalanches are possible. If Thursday's storm delivers, expect this weak layer to become more active.

Check out the UAC blog post Understanding the Risk of Persistent Weak Layer Avalanches .

Snowpack and Weather Data

Snowpack Observations

Gold Basin Storm Stake (10,000')

Gold Basin SNOTEL site (10,000')

SNOTEL site near Geyser Pass Winter Trailhead (9600')

Wind Station on Pre-Laurel Peak (11,400')

NWS forecast for the La Sal Mountains.

Additional Info

Check out the latest UAC podcast with forecaster Brett "Kowboy" Kobernick where he discusses faceted persistent weak layers and how "nobody is immune from getting killed in an avalanche."

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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.

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