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Forecast for the Moab Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath for
Monday, November 28, 2022
The avalanche danger is LOW 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.
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Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
We will be giving a free Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness talk on Tuesday, Dec 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the MARC (111 E 100 N).
Join us for the 1st Annual UAC Moab/LUNA Winter Kickoff Party on 12/10 at the MARC. The event will be from 7-9 PM. Get your tickets here.
Join the Utah Avalanche Center and the Division of Outdoor Recreation to celebrate the Fourth Annual Avalanche Awareness Week, from December 4 - December 11. Click HERE to view a full list of events throughout the state.
Road Conditions: Grand County has not yet begun plowing the road to Geyser Pass Trailhead. The road is hard-packed snow and slick in places. Good tires and all wheel drive are recommended.
Grooming: The Geyser Pass Road above the winter trailhead closes on Dec 15. Grooming will commence after that.
Weather and Snow
24 Hour Snow 0" 72 Hour Snow 0" Base Depth at Gold Basin 17" Wind SW 25 G30 Temp 24F
A pattern change is on the horizon with a series of storms lining up through next week. The first system, scheduled to arrive tonight, will mainly affect points north but we could see 2"-4" by Tuesday. A better looking system for us is shaping up on Friday, with more activity lining up for next week. Today look for mostly cloudy skies, breezy SW winds blowing in the 20-25 mph range with gusts to 40 mph along ridge tops. High temps will be in the low to mid 20's.
The snow surface consists of a mixed bag of sun crusts, wind crusts, old stubborn wind slabs, and cold loose snow. The snowpack on northerly-facing slopes is cold, weak, and shallow. On these aspects, weak, sugary facets have developed in every layer of the pack. For now conditions are mostly stable, but expect the avalanche danger to rise as new snow accumulates on this fragile base. In the meantime, 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.
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Additional Information
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.
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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