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 for the Wasatch Plateau/Manti Skyline Region, including, but not limited to Ephraim, Huntington and Fairview Canyons.  This advisory is brought to you through a partnership of Utah State Parks and the USFS.  Today is Saturday, March 25th, 2006, at 7:00 am.   

 

If you have been out in the backcountry, please post your OBSERVATIONS with us!

To check out past advisories, go to ARCHIVE.  To check out the current, go to our WEATHER page. 

If you would like to see some SNOWPIT profiles, click the link…and more to come. 

 

Current Conditions:

                This weekend is perfect for Ozone’s snow kiting event up on the Skyline for the 25th and 26th.  A High wind advisory is in effect until 11 p.m.  MST Saturday night.  The strong winds and hard surfaces will make travel easy and FAST…be careful!  For all of you other winter sports enthusiasts, today will be the last day that the snow is going to soften up for a bit.  A cold front is passing through the region on Sunday which will keep the high temperatures below freezing and turn any sun effected slopes into what I like to call, “the great coral reef”.   SO GO OUT TODAY!!!  Consolidated powder will be found on due North aspects above 9,500’…everywhere else, wait until the sun starts to soften things up, which is by mid-morning. 

 

Click the links below to find out up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline. 

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’):  62.5” of snow on the ground.  It is 27 degrees out at 6:00 am.  Yesterday warmed up to 45 at 16:00, with 12 hours above freezing. 

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):  There is 52” of snow on the ground.  It is 23 degrees out at 6:00 am. 

There is about 71” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

 

Mountain Weather: 

Today: Partly cloudy. South wind 31 mph. High 42.
Tonight: Chance of thunderstorms then snow. Snow accumulation 5 inches. Probability of measurable precipitation 80 percent. Southwest wind 29 mph. Low 11.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 30 percent. West wind 15 mph. High 23.

 

Avalanche Conditions: (Click here for the International Avalanche Danger Scale)

Spring has officially sprung on the Skyline.   The sun is higher in the sky, staying out longer and effecting the snow every day more and more.   This is the time to start thinking about wet point releases on those South and West aspects in the afternoon.  Starting out this morning the BOTTOM LINE is going to be an avalanche danger of LOW, which will increase to MODERATE on solar aspects in the afternoon if it warms up.  Today’s winds will limit the warm up and the temperatures are not going to get as warm as yesterday either, meaning you might not see any wet activity at all.  Secondly those monster cornices are hanging out everywhere on the Skyline.  They shouldn’t pose an avalanche problem today though.  Take care and we will update this tomorrow. 


*The advisory is also available via recorded message at (800) 648-7433