US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction:  Good morning!  This is Max Forgensi with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Thursday, December 29th at 8:00 am. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

WE ARE STARTING TO FILL UP OUR AIARE LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 CLASSES BEING HELD IN THE LA SALS THIS YEAR.  THE LEVEL 1 IS FEBRUARY 3RD-5TH (FRI-SUN), WHILE OUR LEVEL 2 IS MARCH 3RD-6TH  (FRI-MON).  CALL (435) 636-3363 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP.  EACH CLASS IS LIMITED TO 12 STUDENTS.  TUITION GOES DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE FRIENDS OF THE MANTI-LA SAL AVALANCHE CENTER.

 

To see past advisories check out the ARCHIVE.  To see current conditions go to our WEATHER PAGE.  To see photos go to the AVIPHOTOS page.

 

General Conditions:

Another 2”-possibly 4” fell in the La Sals early last night.  The clouds on the mountains is the remnants of this storm, which will rapidly clear out today.  Don’t fret…two more storms are coming our way within the next week so more moisture is on its way.  The Nordic and Skate skiing conditions are superb up in the mountains today as the track is fast.  Backcountry skiing is another story.  Although we are getting some snow, there still isn’t enough on the ground to make an “enjoyable” experience.   There is a better chance of hitting a snow snake than getting caught by and avalanche. 

 

The Geyser Pass road is unplowed but passable with 4WD or chains. Not much drifting has occurred. 

We are currently at around 70% percent of normal precipitation for the winter so far according to the Natural Recourses Conservation Service. I think we’re a little lighter than that…but in the Desert “normal” is a very wide range.

 

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’):  8.6” at the SNOTEL.  15” at the GPTH Snowstake, 2” new. 29 degrees at the Geyser Pass trailhead at 6:00 a.m.  26 degrees in Moab.

Gold Basin and South Mountain:  At least 21” of settled snow on the ground.

Pre-Laurel Peak Weather Station (11,705’):  Still Struggling with the weather station. Had contact, lost contact. The drama continues with new hardware.

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Areas of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 28. Blustery, with a northwest wind between 20 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 13. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to between 5 and 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Friday: Partly cloudy, with a high around 31. West wind between 10 and 15 mph.

 

Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the International Avalanche Danger Scale here)

Tuesdays 2” came in with no significant wind and today’s 2” seem to have some wind associated from the Northwest as the wind veers and the storm pushes out.  With the storm total at 4” this week so far, there will be a little blowing snow up in the mountains, especially above treeline.  This snow could get deposited on leeward South-Southeast through East slopes…not much snow on those slopes to begin with.  If it does load up instead of sublimating into the dry atmosphere, there will be very shallow slabs only in the upper parts of the starting zones.  We are still waiting for a significant snow/wind event to tip the scales towards an avalanche cycle.  For now, the main concern still is with steep slopes on North through East aspects which are at or above treeline.  Facets reign in this area and these weak crystals are just waiting for a significant slab to form on top of them to fail.  The BOTTOM LINE for today is going to be an avalanche danger of MODERATE on these steep North-NE-E aspects at or above treeline.