Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains | utahavalanchecenter.org

Avalanche Advisory

Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains	Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Monday - December 26, 2016 - 5:32am

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The avalanche danger remains CONSIDERABLE today in steep, upper elevation terrain where blustery winds and blowing snow have created fresh drifts and newly formed wind slabs. On slopes that face NW-N-E, a triggered wind slab also has the potential to step down causing a deeper and more dangerous persistent slab avalanche. The danger is MODERATE at mid elevations. For LOW danger stick to the lower elevations.

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current conditions

The Abajo Mountains have picked up about a foot of snow since Friday, and base depth at Camp Jackson is 22". Overall, It's still pretty thin coverage with a lot of grass and bushes poking out, but things are improving. WNW winds blew in the 20-30 mph range on Saturday, but have been remarkably light over the past 24 hours. It's currently -1 degree on Abajo Peak and 11 at Camp Jackson.

Winds, temperature and humidity on Abajo Peak.

Snow totals at Camp Jackson.

Avalanche Problem 1

type	aspect/elevation	characteristics
		LIKELIHOOD LIKELY UNLIKELY SIZE LARGE SMALL TREND INCREASING DANGER SAME DECREASING DANGER over the next 24 hours
description Moderate to strong, gusty winds with plenty of loose snow available for transport over the weekend translated to drifting snow and the formation of new wind slabs. Avoid areas of recently deposited, wind drifted snow and look for tell tale signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface. A triggered wind slab also has the potential to step down into a deeper persistent slab.

Avalanche Problem 2

type	aspect/elevation	characteristics
		LIKELIHOOD LIKELY UNLIKELY SIZE LARGE SMALL TREND INCREASING DANGER SAME DECREASING DANGER over the next 24 hours
description The underlying snowpack is very weak, and additional snow load from overriding wind slabs has increased the danger for trigger a deeper persistent slab avalanche. You are most likely to find this problem on steep, upper elevation slopes that have a NW-N-E aspect.