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 Saturday, December 3rd at 7:30 a.m. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

Mark your calendars! On Monday, December 5^th at the Grand County SAR shed, the Winter Search and Rescue team will be hosting a ski swap from 6-8 p.m. Bring any winter gear that you want to swap and your checkbook. 10% of the proceeds will go to the Friends of the Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center.

It will be held across from the M.A.R.C. at the SAR shed. See you there!

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 snow! Last nights shot of winter weather exceeded the forecasted snowfall amounts for the area and we will take it. 8” of snow fell at the Geyser Pass Trailhead last night and more can be expected up high. The road up to the trailhead will not be plowed this weekend, so 4WD and chains is recommended.

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): 8”” at the SNOTEL. 23 degrees at the trailhead at 7:00 a.m.

Gold Basin and South Mountain: 16”+ of settled snow on the ground.

Pre-Laurel Peak Weather Station (11,705’): The radios talk to each other and the volunteer crew is going up tomorrow to install the instrumentation. If all goes well it should be up and running next week!

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today...Numerous snow showers in the morning...Then scattered snow showers in the afternoon. Snow accumulation 1 to 3 inches. Highs 25 to 35. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Tonight...Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Lows 5 to 15. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Highs in the 20s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Avalanche Conditions:

The previous lack of snow in the mountains is the biggest factor in our Avalanche Danger for this weekend. The lack of significant snowfall is limiting the hazard currently to North aspects at or above treeline. 8” is definitely going to help, but skiing will be limited to slopes with little to no hazards on the ground surface. Winds out of the Northwest will transport snow onto E-SE aspects, most of which didn’t have any snow on them before this storm. Our main concern again today will be in areas that had snow previously. This was limited to Northerly aspects above to just below treeline. This is where that cold, weak, shallow snow has been sitting. This Depth hoar is going to be the main concern in the La Sals this entire season. The Bottom line for today is going to be LOW with pockets of MODERATE on steep slopes above and just below treeline on Northerly aspects. Cross country skiing today will be your safest bet, and some low-angle touring could be a fun outing for this weekend.