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 Saturday, December 27th, 2003 at 7:30 A.M

General Conditions:

I think the wild weather has pushed through for a bit. In its wake is an amalgamation of snow surfaces…especially ones of the hard slab and wind effected variety. The SNOTEL site is reporting 10.5” of new snow overnight and a current temperature of 10 degrees, but it all seemed to fall in a 2 hour period, so I am a little skeptical. Regardless, there is some new snow to play on and it will be the most fun in sheltered locations, such as tight trees. It is cold out there, so bundle up; it is currently –2 at Pre-laurel Peak. The snow total at the trailhead is around 3 feet, with almost 4 in Gold Basin.

Mountain Weather:

The unsettled weather will persist through today. Look for mostly cloudy skies, with the chance of 1-3” of new snow, highs near 20 with NW winds at 10-20mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy and cold, with lows near 0 and NW winds at 10-20mph. Sunday will be pretty nice with highs near 20 and partly cloudy skies.

Avalanche Conditions:

Reports from the field were cold and gnarly. The winds associated with this storm were howling, and may have even broken our wind vane. Yester during the day about 2-5” of new snow had fallen and been blown around fiercely creating a fair bit of upside down snow conditions and slabs. Essentially, it is not the time to be wandering around in avalanche terrain. Collapsing and cracking were found out there, and with an additional 10” of snow and sustained winds in the 10-20mph, I am sure a number of new slabs have been formed and maybe some natural avalanches have occurred as well. The bottom line is an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on all wind loaded terrain steeper than 35 degrees. Look for any exposed pockets to be loaded by our strong winds, with a characteristic hollow sound of a hard slab or collapsing and cracking indicating their weakness. Even below treeline locations have an increased danger as the new weight may be too much for the weaker snowpack there to handle; remember your safe travel techniques and avoid terrain traps, gullies and runouts of larger avalanche paths.

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

New snow means the skating and Nordic skiing may not be so great today…

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.