Current conditions for popular backcountry routes. Updated daily from NWS, SNOTEL, avalanche.org, and USGS.
Cascades, WA
Weather data is unavailable, which is the biggest unknown here — don't leave the trailhead without checking a current NWS forecast for Chelan County. Snowpack is still significant at elevation (Long Lake at 840 ft is showing 85" depth, so expect deep snow in the core zones), but stream flows are normal and no fires. Conditions look manageable if the weather holds.
Cascades, WA
Solid 3-day window on the Wonderland Trail. Weather is clearing after a minor snow dusting today, then sunny and dry Sunday through Monday. Stream crossings are running at normal levels — no concerns there. Main thing to manage is 43 inches of snowpack still on the ground at elevation, so expect slow travel and route-finding above treeline.
Cascades, WA
NWS weather data is unavailable — do NOT commit to a summit attempt without current forecasts for Rainier. Check NWS Seattle (forecast zone for Rainier summit) and the Mountain Forecast directly before departure. The avalanche bulletin for West Slopes South shows no rating, not a clean 'Low' — treat that as unknown, not safe.
Cascades, CA
Weather data is unavailable — this is the critical gap for a Shasta summit attempt. The avalanche center has no current rating and is defaulting to general caution language, which means you're operating without key safety inputs. Do not commit to a summit push until you independently verify current weather and avalanche conditions through NOAA, the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center directly, and recent trip reports from other parties on the route.
Cascades, WA
Weather data is out — can't give you a reliable forecast or connect temperature trends to wet slide timing, which matters a lot on a May Baker trip. The avalanche bulletin shows 'No Rating' rather than a clean Low/Moderate, which likely means the spring season bulletin is in transition or data is delayed, not that conditions are safe. Do not treat 'No Rating' as a green light. Get current NWAC and NWS data before you leave.
Elk Mountains, CO
Weather data is unavailable so I can't give you a full picture — that's the main gap here. What we do have looks solid: Low avalanche danger with no problems identified, 44 inches of snowpack on the ground (expect postholing and some route-finding on the passes), and stream flows at normal levels. Go, but pull a current NWS forecast before you leave.
Elk Mountains, CO
Clean avalanche bulletin and stable snowpack — conditions are favorable for a Capitol Peak attempt this weekend. Saturday is your best weather window. Monday deteriorates significantly with snow showers likely (64% precip) and winds building to 15-20 mph WSW, which means 30-40 mph gusts on the ridge. Plan your summit push for Saturday or early Sunday and be off the exposed terrain before Monday.
Front Range, CO
Weather data is unavailable — that's the real problem here. Do not commit to a summit push without checking NWS point forecast for Longs Peak summit (14,259 ft) directly before you leave the trailhead. Avalanche bulletin is clean at Moderate with no identified problems, snowpack is solid at the Long Lake station, and conditions are otherwise favorable — but summit weather on a 14er in early May can change fast and you have zero forecast data here.
Front Range, CO
Clean bulletin at Berthoud — Moderate danger across all elevations with zero identified problems. Today and tomorrow are excellent touring days. Monday brings increasing winds and likely snow showers that will change the picture, so plan your best objectives for Saturday and Sunday morning.
Grand Canyon, AZ
Good window to run R2R. Rim temps hit 84°F Saturday with a 20% chance of afternoon showers Sunday — manageable, but inner canyon temps will be 20-30°F hotter than rim readings. Start before sunrise Saturday to get your inner canyon miles done before the worst heat. Sunday's moisture is your main variable.
Grand Canyon, AZ
Excellent conditions for a Bright Angel trip this weekend. Warm days, cold clear nights, no fires, and normal flows on Bright Angel Creek. Monday night brings a chance of rain and snow showers with temps dropping to 31°F at the rim — be layered up and in camp before dark that night.
Sawatch Range, CO
Mostly good conditions for a May trip in the Collegiate Peaks — Low avalanche danger, solid snowpack at elevation, and normal stream flows. The main watch item is Monday's system: 54% precip chance with snow showers and 15-25 mph westerly winds. Plan your highest-exposure terrain for Saturday-Sunday morning and have a bailout in mind if Monday deteriorates.
Sawatch Range, CO
Good window Saturday, but Monday is your problem day — 62% chance of snow showers with 10-20 mph winds will make high sections of the course (Hope Pass, Powerline) cold and slick. Front half of your trip is runnable; plan accordingly and get your big miles in Saturday-Sunday morning before conditions deteriorate.
Sierra Nevada, CA
A winter storm is moving in Sunday–Monday with 78% chance of snow and overnight lows hitting 30°F — this is a real weather event, not a passing shower. Go if you're prepared for winter camping conditions mid-trip, but have a bailout plan for Sunday afternoon.
Sierra Nevada, CA
Late-season snowpack and a building storm system make this a genuine weather exposure trip. Highs only hitting 35°F at trail level with sustained winds to 37 mph Sunday and snow showers likely Monday night — this is a full winter kit situation, not a spring backpack. Doable for an experienced team moving fast, but know your bailout.
Sierra Nevada, CA
A late-season storm is moving in — expect snow Sunday through Monday with temps dropping to 25°F and 70% precip chance Monday. At 44 inches of snowpack already on the ground, you're looking at a real winter environment up high. Crossings are normal and no fire concerns, but pack for full winter conditions and watch your timing around the Monday storm.
Sierra Nevada, CA
No avalanche rating is active for the Central Sierra — the Sierra Avalanche Center has likely closed out the season, so you're operating without a formal bulletin. The real story this weekend is a significant storm cycle arriving Sunday with thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and rain-to-snow transition Sunday into Monday. Plan your tour for Saturday morning and be off exposed terrain before noon.
Sierra Nevada, CA
A winter storm is building through Monday — 70% chance of snow Monday and Monday night with lows hitting 25-26°F. The Mineral King to Whitney corridor sits above 10,000 ft for most of this route; you will be camping in active snowfall with sub-freezing nights. Go now if you can push the start, or delay until Tuesday if not prepared for full winter conditions at elevation.
Sierra Nevada, CA
Weather and avalanche data are both unavailable — this briefing is incomplete for a Whitney Mountaineers Route objective. With 43" of snowpack at elevation still in place in early May, do not commit to summit day without current NWS forecast and wind speeds. Check forecast.weather.gov for Bishop/Whitney Portal before departure.
Tetons, WY
Weather data is unavailable, which is the main gap here — check NWS Mountain forecast for the Tetons before you leave. What we do know: 44 inches of snowpack on the ground in early May means significant snow travel and potentially complex stream crossings later in the day as snowmelt peaks. Plan accordingly, but no fires, no avalanche problems flagged, and flows are normal.
Tetons, WY
Good weather window Saturday and Sunday — get on route early and plan to summit Sunday. Monday brings a 51% chance of snow showers with increasing north winds; you want to be descending or already off the upper mountain by Monday morning. No avalanche rating is posted (late season, Bridger-Teton winds down formal bulletins), but treat upper snowfields with normal late-spring discipline.
Tetons, WY
No BTAC bulletin is published for this date — likely end-of-season gap in coverage. The snowpack at elevation is real (44" reported) but you're on your own for hazard assessment. Wet slide timing will be your main management problem with afternoon highs in the low 40s. Monday brings a chance of snow showers that could add a thin new load — plan your summit push for Saturday or Sunday morning.
Tetons, WY
No avalanche bulletin is being issued for the Tetons right now — late season transition, likely post-closure. Snowpack at Teton Pass is still workable at 43 inches, weather window is excellent through Sunday, but Monday brings a 53% precip chance with rain and thunderstorms. Get your days in Saturday and Sunday, and be off exposed terrain before Monday afternoon.
Wasatch, UT
Utah Avalanche Center has no rating posted for Salt Lake zone right now — check UAC directly before you leave, as late-season bulletins can drop mid-week. The snowpack data is a mess (SNOTEL stations pulling in California stream gauge data and mismatched elevations), so treat depth/SWE figures as unreliable for LCC planning. What's clear: it's May, it's warm, and wet slide timing will dictate your day.
Wasatch, UT
Saturday and Sunday are clean windows — get your long efforts done then. Monday's forecast flips hard: 58% chance of thunderstorms and those will catch you exposed on the ridgeline segments above Brighton and Scotts Pass. Finish anything above treeline before noon Monday or save it for Tuesday.
Wind River Range, WY
Monday is the problem — 75-80% chance of snow showers with overnight lows of 21°F. Plan your exit for Sunday before that system locks in, or dig in Monday with full winter kit. Crossings are in good shape.
Wind River Range, WY
Weather data is unavailable, which is a real gap for a May trip into the Winds — thunderstorm timing and snowmelt-driven flow spikes are the two things that matter most right now and we can't assess either. Stream gauges shown are from Central California and have zero relevance to Wind River drainages. Check NWS Riverton (KRWL) and local Wyoming gauges before you leave.
Zion, UT
Weather data is unavailable for this briefing window — that's the main unknown. What we do have looks fine: no fires, normal stream flows, and nearly 14 hours of daylight. Check NWS forecast for Zion (Springdale, UT area) before you leave — afternoon thunderstorms are a real concern on exposed ridgeline terrain like Angels Landing in May.
Zion, UT
Conditions are excellent for a Narrows trip right now — flows are normal, weather is warm and sunny through Sunday midday, and no fires anywhere near the area. One thing to manage: thunderstorm chances build Sunday afternoon and evening (32% overnight), so plan your Sunday turnaround or shelter timing accordingly.
Zion, UT
Good window for the Zion Traverse. Heat is the main variable — highs hit 73°F Saturday and Sunday with full sun, so hydration planning matters more than any terrain concern. Sunday night brings a chance of thunderstorms (28%) that could affect anyone still on the route late.