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 Sunday, November 28th, 2004 at 7:30 a.m.  

 

To see past advisories check out the ARCHIVE.  To see current conditions go to our WEATHER PAGE.  To see photos go to the AVIPHOTOS page.

 

General Conditions:

The November to remember in terms of snowfall, not desert fun in the sun, is giving us one last hurrah before the calendar page turns over including a nice dusting in town.  Overnight we received an additional 7-10” of new snow at the Geyser Pass Trailhead and only a few inches in the Abajos, with a WINTER STORM WARNING in effect until midnight.  Settled snow depths range from 27” at 9,600’ to about 40” in Gold Basin, with higher amounts in more favored locations.  Currently it is overcast and 30 degrees in town, 16 degrees at 9,600’ and 8 degrees with winds out of the NNE at 20 to 35mph at 11,700’.  Remember, snow depths are still thin at low elevations so be wary of obstacles such as rocks and logs, hiding just at or below the snow surface.  The road won’t be plowed until Monday, so chains and 4WD are recommended.

 

Mountain Weather:

The cold air is filtering in and snow showers should linger throughout the day.  Highs today should be between 15 and 20 degrees with snow maybe kicking back in this evening for a little while.  Winds will be out of the N to NNE at around 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30.  Tonight lows will hover around the 0 mark, with winds around 20 mph from the NNE and chance for 1-3” of new snow.

 

Avalanche Conditions:

About 10” of new snow and winds in the last few hours well into the snow transport range of 15 to 30mph tells me that things are going to be interesting in the mountains today.  Persistent weak layers such as a buried surface hoar layer from November 20th and wind slabs from Friday the 26th that did not settle out before this storm will be reactive to this new load.  Active loading of starting zones should continue as the day wears on with winds blowing consistently out of the N-NNE at 15-30mph.  Signs such as test slopes with shooting cracks, collapsing of the snow and hollow sounds will be great clues of instability if you are out and about today.  The bottom line is an avalanche danger of HIGH on wind loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees at and above treeline and on open steep slopes at lower elevations.  Look out for sluffing of the new light density snow as well on slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  Today is a day to watch your slope angles and keep them at 30 and below on open terrain, or stick to the tight trees, especially with continued low visibility where the avalanche danger is reduced.  High avalanche danger means that human triggered and natural avalanches are likely, so avoid traveling in the runouts of avalanche paths as well. 

 

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

Nordic conditions will be great if you like to get out and break trail-skating will have to wait until the new snow has been packed out a bit.