Moab

Information on outdoor recreation - The State of Utah created this webpage with information about recreating on both state and federal public lands during the current health crisis.

New to the backcountry (including riding at closed resorts) - Watch the award-winning, 15 minute Know Before You Go video, or take the 5-part, free online-learning series.

Here is a thank you message from all of the staff. See you next year!

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.

I've stopped issuing regularly scheduled forecasts for the season. I will continue to update the snowpack summary through the end of the month as conditions warrant.

Use these real-time weather links to plan your day before you head up to the mountains.

Wind, temperature, humidity on Pre Laurel Peak (11,700')

Storm totals at Gold Basin Study Plot (10,000').

Snotel site near Geyser Pass Trailhead (9600').

NWS weather forecast

Snowpack: Mountain temperatures yesterday reached the high 50's and there was not a solid freeze last night. Expect punchy snow conditions that will quickly become wet and sloppy today. Expect a rising danger for wet slide activity as the day progresses.

Corn Snow: Corn is a springtime delicacy that develops after the snowpack goes through several rounds of melting and re-freezing. It can be fickle and overnight re-freezes are key. Corn develops first on southerly aspects in wind-sheltered, mid to lower elevation terrain where the snow gets really cooked. Low angle northerly facing slopes can also make the transition early due to the high angle of the sun. The bigger, steeper, north-facing terrain generally doesn't make the transition to corn snow until sometime in May, or about the time the entire snowpack goes isothermal. Isothermal refers to a snowpack that is wet throughout its depth with all layers being the same temperature. The snowpack eventually becomes one homogenous mass under these conditions.

Getting on and off the snow early is key. Work with the sun by skiing slopes with a more easterly component first, and finishing up in westerly facing slopes by early afternoon. If the snow is becoming wet and sloppy and you are punching through above your boot tops, or are leaving deep ruts in the snow, you are too late.