Moab

Most terrain has generally LOW danger. Small avalanches on isolated terrain features are possible. This time of year small avalanches can take you for a rough and rocky ride given our shallow early-season snowpack.

Conditions remain very thin, and rocks, stumps, and logs lurk below the surface everywhere. Exercise extreme caution getting around.

No recent activity has been observed. Click here for the complete avalanche database.

24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 0" Season Total Snow: 21" Depth at Gold Basin: 15"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: WSW 5-10 Temp: 27° F

Weather

High pressure continues to dominate the weather pattern bringing another day of warm temperatures, light winds, and mostly clear skies. A weak low-pressure trough over Arizona will send some high clouds into the area Monday morning with clearing by the afternoon. The ridge begins to flatten on Tuesday with the jet stream finally dipping a little further south into northern Utah and Colorado bringing a little snow to those areas. We, unfortunately, remain high and dry. Zonal flow continues into early next week with the jet stream remaining well to our north. Long range modeling show our chances for a significant Christmas storm to be dwindling.

General Conditions

Thin and variable best describe conditions. Sunshine and warm temperatures have taken a toll on solar aspects and more and more bare ground is being exposed each day. Relentless winds from the northwest have hammered exposed slopes facing west through north, and many of these slopes above tree line are scoured down to the rocks. Chris Benson went up around Mount Peale from the south side yesterday and found firm, spring-like conditions on slopes that held snow. He did note the presence of underlying weak, faceted snow and some areas with hard, over-riding wind slabs but they are far and few between. Read his observation here.

Chris Benson sent in this photo of the wind blasted NW face of Mount Peale. Note the mountain goats on the ridge in the foreground.

Type of terrain where you may find a hard wind slab over facets. Chris Benson photo.

Snowpack and Weather Data

NEW! Gold Basin webcam storm stake

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.

Geyser Pass Road Conditions: The road has been plowed but the surface is snowpacked and slick. All wheel drive and good tires recommended.

Grooming: The Geyser Pass road above the trailhead will close to vehicles on Dec 15. Grooming will commence after that.

Friday, January 30 - Saturday, January 31 - Moab Backcountry 101 Class - Our annual local backcountry avalanche class. Click here for information and registration. Moab and Monticello locals can use the discount code MOAB-LOCAL for a 10% discount.

It's never too early to start thinking about avalanches. Here are a few things to consider doing:

• Learn online. We have over 5 hours of free online learning at the Know Before You Go website
• Check out the upcoming in-person Know Before You Go events HERE
• Sign up for an on-snow class
• Check out the UAC's education progression HERE
• 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 updating the firmware if it is an electric version or getting your canister refilled if it's not electronic.

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.