Introduction: Good
morning! This is Max Forgensi
with the
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
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
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
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.