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, March 20th, 2005 at 7:30 am.  This bulletin is sponsored in part by Poison Spider, Moab’s finest bike shop, proud sponsors of the Friends of the Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center.  This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

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:

As the calendar prepares to change over to spring, winter is having its last gasp.  2-4” of new snow overnight, and more during the day today will help out the conditions dramatically.  Winds and the old hammered snow surface will mean that staying on true north facing slopes that are sheltered from the weather will give you the best skiing and riding out there, especially with poor visibility today.  Expect some new snow up on the road, so bring a 4WD vehicle. 

 

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’):  41” at the SNOTEL, it is 27 degrees at the TH at 6:00 am.,  

Pre-Laurel Peak (11,700’): still trying to fix it!   

Gold Basin and South Mountain:  75”-85”” of settled snow on the ground. 

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Another few inches of snow is expected today…

Today: Periods of snow showers. High near 31. Windy, with a west wind between 20 and 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. North northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. North northwest wind around 15 mph.

 

Avalanche Conditions:

Finally some new snow in the picture, but it is not enough to change the avalanche conditions very dramatically.  What it will do for now is hide the areas of old hard slab at and above treeline with some nice new snow, making it a little trickier for the winter traveler to see what the snowpack is like today.  The other main concern is that the winds have been blowing pretty hard overnight and will continue to do so today with average speeds in the 20-30 mph range from the SW, shifting more toward the W as the day wears on.  With new snow to transport you can expect shallow and sensitive soft slabs to be out there and growing as the day goes on.  What this all adds up to is a MODERATE danger on wind loaded slopes steeper than 30-35 degrees at and above treeline.  Remember that the winds have put down some hard slabs in some funky spots, so don’t let the new blanket of snow fool you.  Everywhere else the avalanche danger is LOW. 

 

Remember that a MODERATE avalanche danger means human triggered avalanches are possible.