Sign Up for the Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW) on December 7th!

Forecast for the Moab Area Mountains

Eric Trenbeath
Issued by Eric Trenbeath on
Friday morning, December 22, 2017
Special Announcements

This advisory will be updated intermittently with a general conditions report until snow coverage is sufficient for winter travel.

Grand County plowed the road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead on Thursday afternoon. The road is snowpacked and slick.

We're excited to introduce for the 2017/2018 winter the Utah Avalanche Center podcast, hosted by forecaster Drew Hardesty and produced by KUER's Benjamin Bombard. The podcast will include engaging stories, interviews, and lessons learned - all things avalanche to help keep people on top of the snow instead of buried beneath it - and easily found on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Do you have all the gear you need? Check out the UAC’s online marketplace and auction for deals on resort passes, skis, packs, airbag packs, beacons, snowshoes, soft goods and much more. The auction closes at 6PM on December 28.

Weather and Snow

The mountains picked up 10" of low density snow from Thursday's storm that walloped Moab with equally as much. In nearly all areas the new snow fell on bare ground, and with the low density, it's not what we would call great base building material, but at least the mountains are white and it feels like winter! Reed Kennard and I put skis on yesterday and went in the Gold Basin Road. Until we get more snow, travel on roads is about the only game in town.

Northeast winds picked up Wednesday evening averaging in the teens with gusts near 30. This likely moved a bit of snow around along the ridge tops, but with the overall thin coverage, and with no weak layers underneath, we don't have any avalanche concerns at this time.

To stay abreast of current winds, snow totals, and mountain temperatures use the links below.

Snow totals at the Geyser Pass Trailhead, (9600')

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


By 11: a.m. Wednesday morning Moab had received 11" of snow guaranteeing a white Christmas!


Lots of grass sticking through but Haystack Mountain looks beautiful under the fresh snow.


The Gold Basin Yurt is looking a bit more winter ready.

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