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 6 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

New and wind drifted snow has elevated the avalanche danger to CONSIDERABLE on steep, upper elevation slopes that face NW-N-E and human triggered avalanches are likely in these areas. The underlying snowpack is comprised of weak, sugary, faceted snow, and triggered wind drifts will likely step down into these layers causing a deeper and more dangerous avalanche. At mid and lower elevations the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Most south-facing terrain has LOW danger.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Anyone who has been following knows that our meager snowpack is rife with persistent weak layers of loose, sugary faceted snow with one or two crusts buried in there. Wind drifted snow will add additional stress to these buried weak layers increasing the odds of human triggered avalanches on steep, northerly facing slopes. Unfortunately, this weak structure will probably remain with us for the rest of the season, and steep, north-facing terrain will most likely be off-limits until spring.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Shallow, fresh deposits of wind drifted snow have formed on the leeward sides of ridge crests and terrain features in wind-exposed terrain. These will be most problematic on steep, northerly facing slopes where they will add additional stress to a weak, underlying snowpack. In these areas, a triggered wind drift will likely step down into buried weak layers causing a deeper and more dangerous avalanche. Avoid steep, freshly wind drifted slopes, especially those with a northerly component to their aspect.

Special Announcement

Check out the most recent blog post from Chris Benson with a recap of the current state of the snowpack and an analysis of the sometimes thin line between Moderate and Considerable danger.

Do you have the essential avalanche rescue gear (transceiver, probe, and shovel) and do you know how to use them? Watch this video to see how the three pieces of equipment work together.

The Geyser Pass Road Expect an inch or two of new snow on dirt and patches of old snow and ice.

The Lower Utah Nordic Alliance (LUNA) will be up packing down the new snow today.

Snow and Weather

24 Hour Snow 3" 72 Hour Snow 0" Base Depth in Gold Basin 24" Wind SW 20-25 G 40 Temp 21F

Over promise and under deliver. 3" of new snow has accumulated as of 6:00 a.m. with perhaps up to 6" at upper elevations. Showers will linger this morning but they should wrap up by noon with another couple of inches possible. Skies will remain cloudy with ridge top SW winds blowing in the 20-25 mph range with higher gusts. High temps will be in the low 20's. A second wave brings another chance for snow on Sunday followed by another system on Tues. This system is no longer looking as strong.

NWS Weather Forecast.

Wind, temperature, humidity on Pre Laurel Peak (11,700')

Snotel site near Geyser Pass Trailhead (9600')

Storm totals at the Gold Basin study plot (10,000')

Snowpack Discussion

Fresh wind drifts will cause an increase in danger, particularly in upper elevation, wind-exposed terrain. The underlying snowpack is very weak and faceted, and in my travels yesterday I continued to experience signs of instability such as cracking and collapsing. Drifted snow will add additional stress to these buried weak layers. Unfortunately, the new snow load is not quite enough to overtly tip the scales and the balance remains tenuous. As before, steep, northerly facing terrain that has enough snow to ski or ride should be avoided.

General Announcements

This forecast is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Régions couvertes