Avalanche forecast

Moab

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Most slopes have a LOW danger this morning. With strong April sunshine and very warm temperatures, the danger will rise to MODERATE on all slopes that face W-S-E for avalanches involving wet snow. You can easily manage this hazard by starting early. Start your day on east facing slopes, then move to south, and finally west. When the snow becomes sloppy and saturated, it is time to change aspects or go home.

Our long standing persistent weak layer problem is generally non-reactive and people are skiing all kinds of terrain without incident. Weak faceted snow still remains on upper elevation, northerly aspects however, and cautious mountain travelers will continue to avoid likely trigger points such as shallow rocky starting zones, thin steep convexities, and areas of very radical, extreme terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    As the days heat up there is always the possibility for loose wet avalanches on sun exposed slopes. The danger follows the sun with east aspects getting wet first followed by south and then west. Low elevation, northerly aspects can also get in on the action. Signs of instability include rollerballs, pinwheels, and sloppy wet snow. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes when these signs are present.

    I was about an hour too late for true corn on this high elevation east facing slope yesterday. My ski tracks triggered a small, slow moving, wet-loose avalanche. This is a sure sign that it is time to change aspects.

Special Announcement

Construction is back on today and the Loop Road will be closed from Pack Creek between 8:30-5:30.

Geyser Pass Road: The road is melted out to the dirt down low but becomes increasingly wet and sloppy up high. 4x4 required.

Grooming Conditions: Grooming is done for the season.

Motorized Users—Please consider taking this 5-minute survey to help researchers better understand avalanche education participation and safety preparedness. Responses are anonymous and confidential. Thank you!

Recent Activity

No new avalanches have been reported since last Thursday night's round of natural wind slab activity.

See the complete avalanche database here.

Snow and Weather

6 A.M. Snow and Weather Data

24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 0" Season Total Snow: 138" Depth at Gold Basin: 45"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: WNW 15-20 Temp: 30° F

Weather

Under clear skies, it is 30° F in Gold Basin as of 3 AM. Temperatures dipped below freezing around 1 AM. Overnight winds out of the west-northwest blew 15-20 MPH and will back off slightly today and blow 10-15 MPH. High temperatures will reach the low 50s° F with sunny skies. Friday and Saturday will be similar, with highs in the 50s° F. Temperatures drop back to the 40s° F by Sunday, with overnight temperatures well below freezing.

General Conditions

Corn season is happening. The mountains got a refreeze overnight and will warm up fast today. Solars are melting quickly this year, but there is great corn skiing on the sunny slopes for the short term. With very warm temperatures expected today, east aspects will have a short window, and you will have to hit them early in the morning. West aspects offer fun corn in the afternoon. As always this time of year, you will need to be alert to the potential for loose wet avalanches on sun-exposed slopes. If you are skiing north facing slopes you can still find shallow soft powder high in the alpine as reported by Ryan Huels. This snow will most likely turn into “hot pow” today. If you are curious about coverage, be sure to read Ryan’s observation. He included a ton of great photos, and he also discusses the current state of our snowpack. Ryan even acknowledges the poor snowpack structure that exists on northerly aspects, but multiple parties continue to ski big lines without incident, and conditions are generally stable.

Chris Benson shot this great footage from the air on Sunday. It's a great perspective on overall conditions.

Snowpack and Weather Data

Snowpack Observations

Gold Basin Storm Stake (10,000')

Gold Basin SNOTEL site (10,000')

SNOTEL site near Geyser Pass Winter Trailhead (9600')

Wind Station on Pre-Laurel Peak (11,400')

NWS forecast for the La Sal Mountains.

Additional Info

Check out the latest UAC podcast with forecaster Brett "Kowboy" Kobernick where he discusses faceted persistent weak layers and how "nobody is immune from getting killed in an avalanche."

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General Announcements

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

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