24 Hour Snow: 1" 72 Hour Snow: 1" Season Total Snow: 72" Depth at Gold Basin: 32"

Winds on Pre-Laurel Peak: NW 10-15 Temp: 17°F

Weather

Light snow is falling this morning and should continue through the day with 2-4 inches possible. Temperatures will remain cold with highs in the low 20's. Blustery winds will blow out of the northwest. Lows tonight will drop into the low teens with continued breezy conditions as winds shift to the northeast. Saturday will be sunny and cool with high temps around 30°F at 10,000 feet. A dry, warming trend is on tap for next week.

General Conditions

We'll take what we can get but I don't expect too much of an improvement from today's snowfall, nor do I anticipate much of a change in avalanche danger. But as always, be alert to changing conditions and expect the danger to rise if we get more snow than anticipated. The prolonged heat and lack of precipitation have taken a toll on the snowpack and all surfaces are crusted over to varying degrees. Dust on crust will be the name of the game today.

Dry, faceted weak layers remain widespread on northwest through east aspects and continue to pose a serious concern. The greatest risk exists near and above treeline, where hard slabs overlie weak facets. This is a notoriously unpredictable setup that offers little to no warning before failing. It’s a familiar pattern for seasoned La Sal skiers and riders, and the safest approach remains the same: avoid steep terrain on the north half of the compass.

I shot this video last Sunday while we were still at considerable danger. We have since moved into moderate but there are some salient points to take home.

See all Moab observations here.

Snowpack and Weather Data

NEW! Gold Basin webcam storm stake

Gold Basin Storm Stake (10,000')

Gold Basin SNOTEL site (10,000')

SNOTEL site near Geyser Pass Winter Trailhead (9600')