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 Tuesday, January 4th, 2005 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:

Finally some new snow has started to pile up, with about 4-6” of new snow being recorded at the SNOTEL site in the La Sal Mountains and up to foot of new snow in the Abajos. The winds once again, did not let us down, with sustained speeds in the 30-40mph range overnight, with peak gusts into the 80 and 90 mph range! So you can expect, once again, every type of condition out there, from powder in the deep wind sheltered trees, to wind slabs to wind scoured terrain. The road will not be plowed until mid-day so 4WD and chains are recommended as always on the mountain roads.

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 26” of snow on the ground and 27 degrees.

Pre-Laurel Peak (11,700’): 17 degrees, and the winds are averaging 23 mph out of the SSE with gusts as high as the 40’s.

Gold Basin 45” to 55” of settled snow on the ground.

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Periods of snow. Some thunder is also possible. High around 25. Wind chill values between -8 and 2. Windy, with a south wind between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Tonight: Periods of snow. Low around 8. Wind chill values between -4 and -9. South southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Wednesday: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 18. Wind chill values between -1 and -11. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Avalanche Conditions:

The latest storm, although in a lull, has added about half a foot of new snow to the highly variable snowpack. This new weight will react quite differently depending upon what elevation and type of terrain you are traveling in today. Above treeline, whatever is left of the old snowpack has been hammered and beat into place, either as a really, really hard wind slab which doesn’t react to anything, or the snow has left the state of Utah with the winds scouring the snow down to the talus. It is right at treeline and lower that conditions really get funky, or below about 11,300’. It is in these spots that the most new snow has been deposited by the winds, and the weakest snow, sugary facets, was in place before the last two weeks of wind and snow. However, with the new snow, you can expect to see some new deposits above treeline, of a shallower nature. What this translates to is an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on all aspects and slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Be especially cautious on open slopes below treeline and steep glades-trees won’t be a safe haven as they have the weakest snow in mountains right now. The Abajo Mountains have an overall danger of HIGH on all terrain steeper than 30-35 degrees with the added storm totals of a foot plus. Consider all terrain and aspects suspect in the Abajos. I would say that steep north facing trees in the La Sal Mountains and all of the Abajo Mountains are just about at the borderline of warranting an Avalanche Warning. Don’t forget that more snow is forecasted to fall over the day, so with the winds and new snow, the avalanche danger could rise to an overall HIGH.

Nordic and Skate Skiing:

Tough conditions out there until some sleds can break some trail, or maybe you like to get a good trailbreaking workout?