US Forest
Service Manti-La
Sal National
Forest
Introduction:
Good
Morning, this is Max Forgensi with the
To
check out past advisories, go to ARCHIVE. To check out the current, go to our WEATHER page.
NEW LINK!
If you have been out in the backcountry, please post your OBSERVATIONS with us! If you would like to see some SNOWPIT profiles, click the link…and more to
come.
Current
Conditions:
Once again, the Southern half of
the Skyline has received more than the northern half. While the Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL site has
received 10”-12” of snow in the past 7 days, the Seeley creek SNOTEL site has doubled
its snow pack in the past 7 days, gaining more than 20” of snow in the same
time period. Yesterday at 9,000’ up
Ephraim Canyon, measurements of 24” of new snow in 24 hours were taken, with a
28” inches of new snow in the past 7 days.
The current snow depth at that area is 49”. It is
going to be cold out for the next couple of days, so dress warm! With all this new snow, avalanches will be a
concern for this weekend, so read on.
Click the links below to find out
up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline.
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL
(8,800’): 51.7” of snow on the ground. 9 degrees at 6:00 a.m. BRRRR!
Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):
There is 39” of snow on the ground.
8 degrees at 6:00 a.m.
There is about 54” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.
Mountain
Weather:
Today: Partly cloudy. Southwest
wind 8 mph. High 21.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. West wind 12 mph. Low 3.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy. West wind 13 mph. High 19.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of snow
in the evening. Probability of measurable
precipitation 20 percent. Northwest wind 6 mph. Low 2.
Avalanche
Conditions: (Click here for the International
Avalanche Danger Scale)
All this snow and not much wind so far is making for some primo conditions for snowmobiling and skiing conditions. In fact there has been so much snow falling in some places, any machine that is not made for deep powder conditions could have some problems of designated roads and trails. The snow that has fallen in the past 36 hours is not bonding very well to the old snow surface, nor is last Sundays snow bonding well with the snow below it! Yet we are missing a piece to the avalanche puzzle currently…no slab formation. The new snow will slough on steep slopes greater than 35 degrees and could gain some speed in places, yet it is loose snow currently. Places that it might become a concern is in terrain features that “choke” below large steep areas that could concentrate the loose snow.
If we receive any winds, then we
will be dealing with slab avalanches, but at the current time there is no slab
development. The BOTTOM LINE for today is going to be an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE
on steep slopes on all elevations where there has been significant
snowfall. Basic
Avalanche Awareness and Field Day
*The advisory is also available via recorded message at (800)
648-7433