Ad
The National Forest Service Logo
icon-add Observation
Forecasts
Logan Ogden Salt Lake Provo Uintas Skyline Moab Abajos Weather Archives How to read the forecast
Observations & Avalanches
Submit Observation Observations Explorer All Observations Avalanches Fatalities Weather Place Names Map Archives
Education
Avalanche Class List UAC Class List Online Classes Resources and Tutorials Avalanche Awareness Develop Skills
Events
Store
About
Contact Who we are Core Values Staff Board of Directors Past Forecasters Sponsors Annual Reports Sign In
Blog
icon-add Observation
Donate / Join

Forecast for the Moab Area Mountains

Dave Garcia
Issued by Dave Garcia on
Thursday morning, April 10, 2025
Most slopes have a LOW danger this morning. With strong April sunshine and very warm temperatures, the danger will rise to MODERATE on all slopes that face W-S-E for avalanches involving wet snow. You can easily manage this hazard by starting early. Start your day on east facing slopes, then move to south, and finally west. When the snow becomes sloppy and saturated, it is time to change aspects or go home.
Our long standing persistent weak layer problem is generally non-reactive and people are skiing all kinds of terrain without incident. Weak faceted snow still remains on upper elevation, northerly aspects however, and cautious mountain travelers will continue to avoid likely trigger points such as shallow rocky starting zones, thin steep convexities, and areas of very radical, extreme terrain.
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Learn how to read the forecast here
Special Announcements
Construction is back on today and the Loop Road will be closed from Pack Creek between 8:30-5:30.
Geyser Pass Road: The road is melted out to the dirt down low but becomes increasingly wet and sloppy up high. 4x4 required.
Grooming Conditions: Grooming is done for the season.
Motorized Users—Please consider taking this 5-minute survey to help researchers better understand avalanche education participation and safety preparedness. Responses are anonymous and confidential. Thank you!
Weather and Snow
6 A.M. Snow and Weather Data
24 Hour Snow: 0" 72 Hour Snow: 0" Season Total Snow: 138" Depth at Gold Basin: 45"
Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: WNW 15-20 Temp: 30° F
Weather
Under clear skies, it is 30° F in Gold Basin as of 3 AM. Temperatures dipped below freezing around 1 AM. Overnight winds out of the west-northwest blew 15-20 MPH and will back off slightly today and blow 10-15 MPH. High temperatures will reach the low 50s° F with sunny skies. Friday and Saturday will be similar, with highs in the 50s° F. Temperatures drop back to the 40s° F by Sunday, with overnight temperatures well below freezing.
General Conditions
Corn season is happening. The mountains got a refreeze overnight and will warm up fast today. Solars are melting quickly this year, but there is great corn skiing on the sunny slopes for the short term. With very warm temperatures expected today, east aspects will have a short window, and you will have to hit them early in the morning. West aspects offer fun corn in the afternoon. As always this time of year, you will need to be alert to the potential for loose wet avalanches on sun-exposed slopes. If you are skiing north facing slopes you can still find shallow soft powder high in the alpine as reported by Ryan Huels. This snow will most likely turn into “hot pow” today. If you are curious about coverage, be sure to read Ryan’s observation. He included a ton of great photos, and he also discusses the current state of our snowpack. Ryan even acknowledges the poor snowpack structure that exists on northerly aspects, but multiple parties continue to ski big lines without incident, and conditions are generally stable.
Chris Benson shot this great footage from the air on Sunday. It's a great perspective on overall conditions.
Snowpack and Weather Data
Gold Basin SNOTEL site (10,000')
Recent Avalanches
No new avalanches have been reported since last Thursday night's round of natural wind slab activity.
Ad
Avalanche Problem #1
Wet Snow
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
As the days heat up there is always the possibility for loose wet avalanches on sun exposed slopes. The danger follows the sun with east aspects getting wet first followed by south and then west. Low elevation, northerly aspects can also get in on the action. Signs of instability include rollerballs, pinwheels, and sloppy wet snow. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes when these signs are present.
I was about an hour too late for true corn on this high elevation east facing slope yesterday. My ski tracks triggered a small, slow moving, wet-loose avalanche. This is a sure sign that it is time to change aspects.
Avalanche Problem #2
Normal Caution
Type
Location
Likelihood
Size
Description
This is not a specific avalanche problem. It is used by forecasters most often when avalanche conditions are generally safe and there is no predominant avalanche problem. Do not approach Normal Caution as an “anything goes” situation, small avalanches on isolated terrain features remain possible. Continue to keep your guard up and look for any signs of snow instability. Evaluate snow and weather conditions as you travel.
Wind Drifted Snow: The La Sals are a high, windy, and exposed mountain range. Slabs of wind drifted snow can often be found scattered through the high country for days after a storm or wind event. Always suspect "fat" areas, or smooth, rounded pillows of wind drifted snow. Especially if they sound or feel hollow underneath. Even a small wind slab releases could have dire consequences in areas of extreme terrain.
Persistent Weak Layer: Layers of weak faceted snow still remain on northerly aspects but a strong, hard slab exists over top and triggering an avalanche down to these weak layers has become very unlikely. Nevertheless, whenever I travel in the mountains, I keep my avalanche glasses on. Travel with awareness and avoid thin rocky areas and obvious trigger points such as steep convexities and blind break-overs where it may still be possible to trigger a deeper avalanche.
Additional Information
Check out the latest UAC podcast with forecaster Brett "Kowboy" Kobernick where he discusses faceted persistent weak layers and how "nobody is immune from getting killed in an avalanche."
Sign up for text alerts to get the most up to date information about changing conditions, road plowing, special avalanche announcements.
Follow us on Instagram @utavy_moab
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.
< Previous forecast