Moab

Conditions are generally too thin for over snow travel and triggering an avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. A triggered avalanche would likely be small but it could potentially knock you down and send you crashing into rocks. If you find yourself in the high country, be cautious of steep, wind drifted slopes. Look for signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface and avoid slopes that sound or feel hollow underneath. This forecast will be updated as conditions warrant.

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After a moist October, which saw more than 2’ of snow fall in the mountains, mostly dry conditions have set in taking a toll on our early season snowpack. Snow on northerly aspects ranges from about 6” at 10,000’ to 18” at upper elevations. Most sun exposed slopes have melted back to the ground. A few folks were able to eek out some early season turns last month, but for now conditions are generally too thin for over snow travel. And, as expected, this dry period has had a negative impact on snowpack structure. A classic La Sal set up with weak, sugary, faceted snow above and below a crust is developing. This will undoubtedly plague us as a basal weak layer in the months ahead.

Photo illustrates crust with faceted weak layers above and below.

BRAND NEW! Gold Basin SNOTEL site (10,000')

Storm Totals in Gold Basin

Wind Station on Pre Laurel Peak (11,700')

NWS Weather Forecast

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.