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 Wednesday, March 23rd, 2005 at 9:30 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:

Wind is the word for today, and so is a WINTER STORM WARNING FOR WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.   Snow showers will increase throughout the day and will become heavy by mid-day.  There was plenty of powder in the trees a few days ago, but by the wind speeds we are experiencing just down here in Moab, I am wondering what it is like up in the mountains…plenty of blowing and drifting of snow.  Keep your hats on today.

 

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’):  43” at the SNOTEL, it is 31 degrees at the TH at 6:00 am.,  

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

Gold Basin and South Mountain:  70”-85”” of settled snow on the ground. 

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT

Today:  Periods of snow.  High near 29.  Winds will be out of the WSW at 30-35 mph, gusting to 45.  3-7” of snow is expected. 

Tonight:  Snow showers likely.  Cloudy with a low temperature of 29 degrees.  Winds will be out of the West at 15-25, gusting to 45 mph.  3-5” of snow is possible. 
Thursday:  50% chance of snow.  Cloudy with a high near 34 degrees.  Winds will be out of the SW at 10-15 mph.  1-3” is possible. 

 

Avalanche Conditions:

Over 10” of snow has fallen in the past 5 days, and more snow is on its way.  On Sunday, there was plenty of collapsing and some shooting cracks out there, and all of our test slopes were tender and reactive. With heavy snow on its way and strong winds already surfacing, the avalanche danger is rising.  The wind is so strong that it will be affecting every nook and cranny, depositing snow farther down the starting zones than expected.  Tender slabs 1.5-3’ deep will be found on lee-sides of ridges and terrain features.  Visibility will also be a concern.  Today will not be a day to go adventuring into new terrain.  The Bottom Line for Today is a CONSIDERABLE Avalanche Danger on North-NE-East aspects where there is wind loaded slopes steeper than 30-35 degrees at and above treeline.  For the rest of the La Sal’s I am going to rate the avalanche danger at MODERATE.