Bulletin d’avalanche

Moab

Utah Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 7 months ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

There is a MODERATE avalanche danger today on all steep slopes near and above treeline that face northwest through southeast. The avalanche problem is two-fold. It remains possible for skiers and riders to trigger slab avalanches on deeply buried persistent weak layers. These avalanches may initially break up to two feet deep, but could step down into deeper weak layers and take out the entire season’s snowpack. These avalanches would be large and dangerous. The most effective way to avoid this problem is to stay off slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

Recent strong winds and heavy drifting have elevated the chance of triggering a wind-drifted snow avalanche. This problem exists near treeline and above on slopes that face north through southeast. These are the very same slopes that harbor the persistent weak layer problem. This one-two combo has me searching for powder turns on below treeline northerlies today.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    3

    Several layers of faceted snow exist within the snowpack. Blowing and drifting snow over the past 24 hours will put even more stress on these layers. A layer of near-surface facets was buried under the most recent storm snow. This layer is likely sensitive to a person's weight and may be the first place an avalanche fails. Avalanches that start here can step down into deeper, more problematic persistent weak layers both above and below the Christmas rain crust. Avalanches can also initiate on these more deeply buried layers.

    Any avalanche that fails below the crust would be large and dangerous, potentially breaking to the ground and taking out the entire season’s snowpack. In many areas near treeline and below, the snowpack remains faceted top to bottom and lacks a cohesive slab. Where a slab does exist, the snowpack structure is poor.

    The key is to look for signs of strong snow over weak snow—hard snow over soft snow. If you find a slab, carefully evaluate that slope or avoid it altogether. This problem is most pronounced on north and east-facing slopes, but it also exists on northwest and southeast-facing aspects.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    2

    Strong winds from the west were at it again over the last 24 hours. With plenty of low-density snow available for transport, I observed heavy blowing and drifting in my travels yesterday. Fresh sensitive drifts are building on slopes near treeline and above that face north through southeast. All the usual supsects will be freshly loaded up today; north Mellenthin, Horse Creek Chutes, Gravel Pit lanes, just to name a few. The fact is, these are the very same slopes that harbor buried persistent weak layers. Combine that with recent heavy drifting, and that's enough intel for me to avoid these slopes altogether.

    Strong winds and heavy drifting will have penetrated the near treeline zone as well. Be on the lookout for sensitive drifts further downslope than we might typically expect. Be suspicious of mid-slope terrain features like steep convexities and gully walls.

    Heavy snow transport on Wednesday on the north face of Mellenthin.

Special Announcement

Geyser Pass Road Conditions: The road was plowed Tuesday, thanks Grand County! It remains slick and snowpacked; 4x4 and good tires are recommended.

Grooming: Trails have seen a lot of traffic and are not freshly groomed.

We are looking to reschedule our Moab Backcountry 101 Class to February 20, 21 in the hopes that we will have more snow. Click here for information and registration. Moab and Monticello locals can use the discount code MOAB-LOCAL for a 10% discount.

Recent Activity

The weekend storm produced a decent round of natural activity, including dry loose, soft slab, and hard slab avalanches. We have been getting around the past few days and viewing the recent activity. The avalanche database has been updated with the latest information and can be viewed here.

Snow and Weather

24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 0" Season Total Snow: 44" Depth at Gold Basin: 28"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: NNW Light Temp: 9°F

Weather

Under scattered clouds, it is a chilly 9°F in Gold Basin this morning. Yesterday, and overnight, strong winds blew from the west. Winds are currently light out of the northwest. Today will be mostly sunny with highs at 10,000 feet around 26°F. Winds will blow out of the northwest around 15 MPH with gusts of 20-25 MPH. For the rest of the week, we can expect warm days, cool nights, and dry weather. By the weekend, temperatures will reach the mid-30s°F. A pattern change is possible by early next week.

General Conditions

The mountains received 10 inches of snow on Friday and Saturday. Strong winds from the west ramped up once again yesterday, and I observed heavy snow transport during my tour along the Mann's - Tomasaki ridgeline. Windward slopes took on even more scouring, while another round of wind-drifted snow was deposited on the leeward slopes. Fresh drifts will be reactive to the weight of skiers and riders today. The very same slopes that were recently loaded also harbor buried persistent weak layers. Human-triggered avalanches failing on multiple deeply buried weak layers remain possible. With the combination of recent loading and buried weak layers of concern, the simple strategy is to avoid steep slopes near and above treeline with a northerly component to their aspect. Plenty of powder skiing exists below treeline on the polars, and solar aspects offer low danger and safe travel.

See more recent observations here.

Snowpack and Weather Data

NEW! Gold Basin webcam storm stake

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.

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.

Régions couvertes