Forecast for the Abajos Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath on
Wednesday morning, April 8, 2020
The avalanche danger is MODERATE today. With a strong sun and warm daytime temperatures, the danger for wet avalanches will increase throughout the day. Signs of instability include pinwheels, rollerballs, and point release sluffs. Get off of and out from under steep slopes that become wet and sloppy. There also remains an isolated or MODERATE danger for triggering an avalanche on a buried persistent weak layer of loose, sugary, faceted snow. Areas of very steep, rocky, radical terrain where the snowpack is shallow and weak are the most suspect.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Spring Awareness Campaign - Help us save lives through avalanche forecasts and education. Consider making a donation before April 8th.
Uncertainty, Risk, & Decision Making: before, during, and after COVID-19 - Read this thought-provoking blog post about how we take risks by guest author Tom Diegel.
Weather and Snow
Weather: Believe it or not, SW winds are mostly light and forecasted to stay that way. Skies are clear and we had a good solid freeze last night. Today will be a scorcher with sunny skies and high temps in the mid 50's. The cut off low we've been watching is looking drier and drier. It will spin into our region tomorrow bringing a slight chance for snow showers. Friday and Saturday look mostly sunny with another slight chance for showers on Sunday as a Pacific trough drops down from the north.
Snowpack: In our travels over the weekend we found a mixed bag of spring conditions. Some soft, dry snow can still be found on sheltered, shady aspects, and supportable corn-like snow is developing on S-W facing slopes. Deeper in the snowpack, a layer of weak, sugary, faceted snow exists on northerly aspects. In isolated areas, it may be possible to trigger an avalanche down to this buried weak layer. Areas of very steep, rocky, radical terrain where the snowpack is shallower and weaker are the most suspect.
Kevin Dressel photo.
Snow totals at Buckboard Flat (8924')
Snow totals at Camp Jackson (8858')
Additional Information
Information on outdoor recreation - The State of Utah created this webpage with information about recreating on both state and federal public lands during the current health crisis.

New to the backcountry (including riding at closed resorts) - Watch the award-winning, 15 minute Know Before You Go video, or take the 5-part, free online-learning series.
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.