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Forecast for the Moab Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath on
Monday morning, December 7, 2020
Snow cover is currently limited to northerly facing, shady slopes above about 9500' and depths range from a few inches to 18". In short, there is just enough snow on the ground to begin forming a problematic weak layer of, sugary, faceted snow at the base of the snowpack. This doesn't bode well for future stability. Aaron Kawcak made it over to Dark Canyon over the weekend and sent in this observation.
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Special Announcements
This week is the 2nd Annual Avalanche Awareness Week. We will be hosting avalanche awareness and education events across the state of Utah. Get a full schedule of events here.
Weather and Snow
Upper Dark Canyon on Dec 6. Photo by Aaron Kawcak.
Keep abreast of current snow and weather conditions with the links below.
Storm totals at the Gold Basin Study Plot (10,000')
Wind, temperature, humidity on Pre Laurel Peak (11,700')
Snotel site near Geyser Pass Trailhead (9600').
NWS weather forecast
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Additional Information
Here is a recap of the season snow history.
A powerful storm on Oct 25 brought the first significant snow to the mountains with snow levels dropping to the valley floor. Up to a foot of snow graced the high country. Aerial observer Chris Benson took these photos of a plastered mountain range, and Chris Bolos got the first turns of the season.
Oct 25 storm snow. Photo by Chris Benson.
Warm temperatures over the next couple of weeks diminished much of the early season snow. This alleviated some of our fears over a widespread, persistent weak layer, but some areas of old snow still remain. This will make things a bit tricky as we move forward and we will have to suspect weak, faceted snow at the base until we prove otherwise. Likely areas of concern are on sheltered, northerly aspects right around treeline, and in areas where the wind has deposited greater amounts of snow.
Photo by Brian Murdock.
A storm on Nov 9-10 brought another 6"-10" to the mountains. With the dry period that followed, this most recent snow will likely become a weak layer of loose, sugary facets at the base of the snowpack. We'll want to pay attention to this before the next snow comes hopefully later this week.
SE face of Mount Peale on Nov 13. Photo by Brian Murdock.
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.
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