Moab

Mostly benign avalanche conditions exist and the snowpack is mostly stable. It may still be possible to trigger a small slab of wind drifted snow, or a loose, dry sluff in isolated areas or in more extreme terrain.

It's still low tide out there and rocks, stumps, and deadfall are lurking just beneath the surface. A ride in even a small avalanche in these low snow conditions would be rugged.

We've not yet begun issuing regular daily avalanche forecasts but will update this page as conditions warrant. Also follow us on Instagram @utavy_moab

Road Conditions: Grand County has not yet begun plowing the road to Geyser Pass Trailhead. Expect to find mixed dirt, ice, and snowpacked conditions. Good tires and all wheel drive are recommended.

Cold and dry conditions exist through the extended period.

We knew it would come to this. Now that the initial excitement over early season snow has worn off, a worst case scenario is beginning to unfold and observers are reporting the presence of weak, sugary, faceted snow both at the base of the snowpack, and near the surface. This developing poor snowpack structure does not bode well for future stability as these layers of faceted snow will likely become weak layers within the snowpack. For now however, conditions are mostly stable and your greatest danger comes from traveling in low snow conditions. Average depth is around 18" at 10,000' and rocks, stumps, and other obstacles are barely covered up. It may still be possible to trigger a small slab of wind drifted snow, or a loose, dry sluff in isolated areas or in more extreme terrain. A ride in even a small avalanche in these low snow conditions would be rugged.

If you are getting up into the mountains please submit an observation and let us know what you are seeing!

Get the most recent observations here.

Get current and past 24-hour readings from these real-time weather links:

Snow and Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) at the Gold Basin SNOTEL site (10,000')

Snow and Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) near the Geyser Pass Winter Trailhead (9600')

Wind Speed and Direction on Pre-Laurel Peak (11,400')

NWS point forecast for the La Sal Mountains.

Even if you're not planning to get onto the snow, it's never too early to start thinking about avalanches. A few things to consider doing:

• Sign up for an avalanche class.
• Take the all-new online avalanche courses the UAC built for Know Before You Go or take other online courses listed on the KBYG website (Develop skills -> Online Learning).
• Get your avalanche rescue gear ready for winter. Put fresh batteries in your transceiver and update the firmware. Inspect your shovel and probe. Get your airbag backpack ready by possibly doing a test deployment and update the firmware if it is an electric version.

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.

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.