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Forecast for the Moab Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath on
Tuesday morning, December 16, 2025
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.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements

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 is now closed to wheeled vehicles. Grooming will begin this weekend.

Date: 12/16/2025 - 12/17/2025 Our Holiday Auction closes Dec 16th! Check it out now to gear up for winter while supporting avalanche forecasting, awareness, and education across the state!

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.

Weather and Snow

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

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: NW 12-18 Temp: 26° F

Weather

More of the same. On Wednesday, the jet stream dips into northern Utah bringing little more than an increase in winds to our area. Warm and dry conditions remain over our area through the week.

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 on Sunday and found firm, spring-like conditions on solar aspects that still hold 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.

More rocks are exposed with each passing day of sunshine and warm temperatures.

Snowpack and Weather Data

NEW! Gold Basin webcam storm stake

Gold Basin Storm Stake (10,000')

Recent Avalanches
No recent activity has been observed. Click here for the complete avalanche database.
Avalanche Problem #1
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description

The overall danger is low, and normal caution is advised. It is important to remember that low danger and normal caution is not an “anything goes” situation. Continue to keep your guard up and look for any signs of snow instability. Evaluate snow and weather conditions as you travel. Slab distribution is spotty at best, but prudent backcountry travelers will continue to look for and avoid slabs over weak layers, especially in steep, radical terrain. Even a small avalanche could cause season-ending injuries due to our very shallow and rocky early-season snowpack.

Additional Information

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.
General Announcements
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.
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