Moab

It's becoming more difficult to trigger an avalanche and most terrain has generally LOW danger. A very isolated or MODERATE danger for human triggered avalanches involving wind drifted snow still exists on upper elevation slopes facing N-NE-SE. Wind drifts are recognizable by their smooth, rounded appearance, and they may sound or feel hollow like a drum. In areas of more radical, extreme terrain, where the underlying snow is shallow and weak, a triggered wind drift may cause a deeper and more dangerous avalanche.

Are you looking to improve your avalanche skills? We are offering a Backcountry 101: Introduction to Avalanches class on February 15-16 in Moab. Click here to register A huge thanks to Moab Gear Trader for sponsoring this course. Please visit them for all your winter backcountry needs.

Road Conditions: The road is plowed but snowpacked and icy in places. Thanks Grand County!

Grooming report: LUNA (Lower Utah Nordic Alliance) last groomed on Wednesday. Thanks Matt!

24 Hour Snow 0" Weekly Snow 1" Base Depth in Gold Basin 48" Wind NE 5-10 mph Temp 2F

Weather: Skies areclear, NE winds are light, and it's cold up there! Today look for mostly sunny skies with high temps in the mid 20's. Ridgetop NW winds will blow in the 10-15 mph range shifting to SW by afternoon. Dry conditions remain through the week. The Friday-Saturday storm isn​​​​​'t materializing, and the progression of a stronger trough timed for Sunday is now being pushed into Monday. With beautiful weather in the desert, it may be time to get out the bike.

Snowpack: On top, conditions are widely variable but reports of good snow in sheltered locations are still coming in. Underneath, the snowpack is taking the form of a mid-season continental snowpack on an average year, with varying depths and strengths minus the depth hoar. In most areas above about 10,500', the pack is deep and strong with a depth of 4'-5'. But sun and wind-exposed slopes, and rocky areas right around treeline and below have shallower and weaker snow. In most cases, these weaker snow areas are not yet a problem. Isolated concerns exist in areas of steep, rocky, or sparsely wooded extreme terrain where wind drifted snow has been added to the underlying weak snow.

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

Aerial observer Chris Benson was out flying around taking pictures yesterday of our wind ravaged snowpack. Read his observation and see more pictures here.

Chris Benson photo.

Local observer, and environmental sedimentologist Chris Benson, has prepared these charts to track avalanche, weather, and snowpack data over the past 2 weeks. It's a great way to see the history of what's been going on up there, and how weather events correspond to the daily danger rating. Snow data is from the Snotel site at the Geyser Pass Trailhead at 9600'. This site receives considerably less snow than the Gold Basin plot at 10,000', but it also measures Snow Water Equivalent (SWE), or water weight within the snow. This measurement is far more important to avalanche forecasters than snow amounts. Thanks Chris!

My radio interview on KZMU about the history of backcountry skiing in the La Sals, avalanche accidents, and unique snowpack has been saved in perpetuity. You can listen to it here.

Check out the avalanche beacon training park at the Geyser Pass Trailhead and practice your rescue skills!

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.