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, December 5th, 2004 at 7:00 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:

A surprise burst of snow has left us with about 2”-4” of new accumulations in town and the mountains.  The snow should dissipate quickly and leave behind some enjoyable skiing and riding on mostly settled powder and the light new accumulations on the surface.  On sunny lower elevation and sheltered aspects there is a bit of a crust, so stay high and/or shady for the best snow conditions.  Above treeline locations will also have a bit of wind affected snow to deal with.  Currently it is 21 degrees and snowing at the Geyser Pass Trailhead with 22-26” of snow on the ground and it is 18 degrees with winds out of the WSW at 15-20mph at 11,700’;  Gold Basin has about 40-46” of settled snow on the ground.

 

Mark your calendars for December 6th, at 7-8 p.m. when the Southeastern Utah Winter Search and Rescue Team puts on a SKI SWAP!  If you are trying to sell any type of snow related equipment or clothing or are looking for some equipment yourself, this is going to be the best place to do it in Moab for this winter season. 

 

Mountain Weather:

The surprise burst of snow should end in the morning hours.  The details:

Today. Snow then a slight chance of snow in the afternoon. Highs in the 20s.  Southwest wind around 10 mph.
Tonight. Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows 10 to 20.  South southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Monday. Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Highs in the 20s.  West southwest wind around 5 mph.

 

Avalanche Conditions:

After the benign weather this week, we have just a little bit of new snow to make the skiing and riding conditions better and only complicate the avalanche conditions slightly.  What remains from last weekend’s big dump is only a few pockets of unstable snow, which are becoming more settled as time wears on.  The snowpack’s weak layers are not very reactive anymore, which is good news.  Our main concern now is the weak faceted surface snow from this week that is now getting buried by the light snow accumulations.  However, today’s load is very small, and the minor winds should only create small sensitive wind slabs at and above treeline close to ridges and on cross-loaded slopes and gullies.  The bottom line is an avalanche danger of MODERATE on slopes steeper than 35 degrees on E-N-W aspects that did not avalanche in the last storm cycle and on recently (being today) loaded slopes at and above treeline. Be wary of the steep and shady spots below treeline where the persistent weak layers are even more dramatic, but the snow load is not as large, meaning your weight might really make the difference.  All other areas have a LOW avalanche danger.

 

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

An enjoyable day for you classic Nordic skiers with just a little bit of new snow to break trail in.  Skate skiing will be compromised due to the fact the track is not very wide and the new snow.