Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center

US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction:

Good Morning! This is Evan Stevens with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory. Today is Wednesday, December 24th, 2003 at 7:30 A.M

General Conditions:

The wind will be the story today, but where the winds and warm temperatures have not taken over, you should be able to find some nice recrystalized powder in the sheltered and shady elevations, including upper elevation areas. Currently it is 28 degrees at the trailhead, and 26 in town under cloudy skies. There is 37” of snow at the Gold Basin stake and 29” at Geyser Pass. The road is snowpacked and 4WD may be necessary at times.

Mountain Weather:

We are in a wait and see pattern. A strong Pacific storm is moving into our region, and I am sure we will get some snow, but how much depends on the track and behavior of the storm. For now, cloudy skies, highs near 40 with moderate winds from the SW at 10-20mph. Same story for tonight, mostly cloudy, lows in the teens accompanied by SW winds at 10-20mph. X-mas day should see the snow start to fly later in the day, with highs in the 30s and strong winds from the SW.

Avalanche Conditions:

The old slabs from the last two storms have lost a bit of their energy, and as a result, the avalanche danger has quieted down a bit. You still may be able to find a lingering pocket of instability with a MODERATE danger on NE-NW aspects at and above treeline on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. The danger is LOW every wehere else. With some stout crusts on the sunny aspects, I don’t expect the winds to transport too much snow ahead of this next storm, but still be on the look out for new wind slabs. Of most concern for the days to come is the weakening of the shallow snowpack on northerly aspects. There is a mid-pack layer of facets that may react to more weight, so look for its presence when you are out and about. We did have a surface hoar event in the last 2 days, but it may not survive the next little bit of warm and windy weather-once again we will have to wait and see. For now, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to see where these weak facet layers exist, and determine there strength before the new snow weight gets added on in the next few days.

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

The Tag-a-Long snow cat was up on the road to Geyser Pass yesterday and groomed it beautifully for all to enjoy, so get out there and skate before the new snow starts to fly!

Public Announcements:

We still need volunteers and observers! Call us at the office for more info, 259-7155 for more info, or 636-3363 after hours. Get ready for our avalanche awareness courses coming in January. Check the education page for a course near you.

Word of the Day:

Leeward sides: Not knowing this term could make you wonder where the snow would end up during a wind event. There are two areas, the windward and the leeward sides of mountains. The windward side faces where the wind is coming from, the leeward side is the opposite. The wind picks up snow on the windward slopes, also known as “fetch areas”, and deposits them on the leeward side. If the wind is coming from the South, expect Northerly aspects to have wind loading.