Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center

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. Today is Sunday, December 28th, 2003 at 7:30 A.M

General Conditions:

This morning Moab is under clear skies with winds out of the NE at 5 mph. The current temperature in town is 10F. Up at the Geyser Pass Trailhead it is –3.8F. We have received 14” out of the last storm and our base at GPTH is 40”. Up at Gold Basin, we have received about 20” of snow and have 52” on the ground. The Pre-Laurel Peak weather station is registering a temperature of –9.0F, with the winds out of the North. Unfortunately, the weather station was damaged in the last storm, due to rime and high winds. We are unable to gather wind speeds for the time being. The road was not plowed as of 3 P.M. Saturday. 4WD and chains are advised.

Mountain Weather:

Today: Partly Cloudy. Highs 10-20.

Tonight: Partly Cloudy turning to Mostly Cloudy. Lows 0 to 10 above.

Monday: Mostly Cloudy with the chance of snow increasing throughout the day. Highs 15-25. Winds out of the S at 10-20 mph.

It appears that we have a good chance of snow everyday for the remainder of the week. This is the best start of the season in years, so go out and enjoy it! Just dress warm.

Avalanche Conditions:

Thankfully the wind subsided yesterday, and it was cold enough to make sure you kept moving. For those of you that don’t mind cold weather, this is going to be a perfect day to get after it. The skiing conditions are great. When I had visibility up there, I observed no natural avalanches, although I did see plenty of wind loading on N-E aspects, cornice development on ridge lines and wind drifts on N-E aspects of trees. Some of the drifts I walked through were waist deep, and there is plenty of more snow to transport. And just what does lurk in the snow pack? Observations on NW-NE slopes show that there are weaknesses mid snow pack. Will this snow load be the straw to break the camel’s back or you? Before this storm, the snow pack on southerly aspects were very consolidated due to warm weather. The new snow on these aspects should cover the crusts.

The bottom line is an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on all wind loaded terrain NW-E steeper than 35 degrees. Be careful on and around cornices, be aware of any cracking or whoomphing and look for clues of instability. For the rest of the areas, I am going to rate it as MODERATE. Remember your safe travel techniques and avoid terrain traps, gullies and run-out zones of larger avalanche paths.

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

There is a good Nordic track started, although the lack of grooming is going to make skating impossible.

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.