Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Abajo Area Mountains Issued by Eric Trenbeath for Sunday - March 19, 2017 - 6:47am
bottom line

The avalanche danger is generally LOW in the morning and mostly stable snow conditions exist in all aspects. With daytime heating, the danger for wet slide activity will rise to MODERATE, and backcountry travelers need to be alert to signs of instability such as roller balls, pinwheels, or sloppy wet snow up around their boot tops. Follow the sun and get off of exposed aspects if any of these signs are present. Start early and end early, and as a general rule, plan to be out of avalanche terrain by around noon.
special announcement

The Abajo/Blue Mountain avalanche advisory will provide detailed information on the weekends. During the week, general information and a danger rating will be posted.

current conditions

Skies are clear and SW winds are in the 10-15 mph range along ridge tops. It's 34 degrees on Abajo Peak and 41 at Camp Jackson. Spring time conditions are in effect. Supportable corn snow can be found in the mornings on SE-S-W aspects, though many of these areas are showing exposed ground. North facing aspects are either transitional, or wind affected dry snow.

I've seen very little wet avalanche activity through the warm spell of the past 10 days, and the snowpack is mostly stable. Nevertheless, it is good practice to be out of avalanche terrain by about noon under these conditions - earlier on slopes with an easterly component, and slightly later on those that face west - or if you feel the snow becoming sloppy, wet, or punchy.
Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 12 hours
description

With daytime heating, the danger for loose, wet slide activity will increase. Be alert to signs of instability such as roller balls, pinwheels, or sloppy wet snow up around their boot tops. Follow the sun and get off of exposed aspects if any of these signs are present. Start early and end early, and as a general rule, plan to be out of avalanche terrain by around noon.

weather

Today look for another sunny warm day with high temperatures at 10,000' to be around 50 degrees. SW winds will blow in the 15-20 mph range. Tonight we'll see a few clouds move in ahead of the first in a series of Pacific storm systems that will affect the area this week. We'll see a chance of showers developing on Monday, with our best chance for snow Wed-Fri.

general announcements

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The information in this advisory is from the US Forest Service which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.