We've not yet begun issuing regular daily avalanche forecasts but will update this page as conditions warrant. Also follow us on Instagram @utavy_moab
Road Conditions: Grand County has not yet begun plowing the road to Geyser Pass Trailhead. Expect to find mixed mud and snowpacked conditions. Good tires and all wheel drive are recommended.
A good looking storm system is on our doorstep with what looks to be some decent snowfall accompanied by strong southerly winds. It should start getting after it mid-morning, but I'm seeing quite a spread for snow totals with anywhere from 6"-12" possible. South winds will crank in the 35-45 mph range with gusts into the 50's only tapering off slightly later in the day. Temps will be quite warm, in the mid to upper 20's, before cratering into the single digits tonight. Tomorrow should be sunny and cold.
Warm temperatures this week have settled the snowpack down to around 15" at the Gold Basin Study plot with deepest depths in the range averaging around 20". These warm temperatures should have had a calming effect on the thin layer of sugary, faceted snow that Dave Garcia and I
identified earlier this week, and overall, the underlying snowpack is dense and supportable (see this
recent observation). The downside has been strong southerly winds over the past couple of days. These winds have stripped southerly aspects, while alternately drifting snow on to northerly facing slopes. New snow and wind today will continue to create fresh drifts on northerly aspects increasing the likelihood for human triggered avalanches on steep, wind drifted slopes. Low snow conditions also continue to create a hazard so tread lightly out there.
If you are getting up into the mountains please
submit an observation and let us know what you are seeing!
Get current and past 24-hour readings from these real-time weather links:
