US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction:  Good morning!  This is Dave Medara with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Monday December 26th at 8:00 a.m. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

WE ARE STARTING TO FILL UP OUR AIARE LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 CLASSES BEING HELD IN THE LA SALS THIS YEAR.  THE LEVEL 1 IS FEBRUARY 3RD-5TH (FRI-SUN), WHILE OUR LEVEL 2 IS MARCH 3RD-6TH  (FRI-MON).  CALL (435) 636-3363 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP.  EACH CLASS IS LIMITED TO 12 STUDENTS.  TUITION GOES DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE FRIENDS OF THE MANTI-LA SAL AVALANCHE CENTER.

 

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:

 

Desperate conditions continue off the main roads and trails. Backcountry travel is best limited to packed out areas where there is little chance of hitting logs or rocks. The ground cover is very thin. Looks like snow in the forecast for tonight so keep your fingers crossed. Conditions for Nordic and skate skiing on the Geyser Pass Road are excellent at the moment.

 

The road to the GPTH is plowed and in great shape  but there are some slippery and/or slushy sections so 4WD or chains are still recommended

 

We are currently at around 70% percent of normal precipitation for the winter so far according to the Natural Recourses Conservation Service. I think we’re a little lighter than that…but in the Desert “normal” is a very wide range.

 

 

Current Conditions: (click location for latest data)

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’):  5.2” at the SNOTEL. 11” at the GPTH Snowstake. 36 degrees at the Geyser Pass trailhead at 7:00 a.m.  20 degrees in Moab.

 

Gold Basin and South Mountain:  18” of settled snow on the ground. 

 

Pre-Laurel Peak Weather Station (11,705’):  Still Struggling with the weather station. Had contact, lost contact. The drama continues. We Will persevere.

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Scattered rain and snow showers after noon. Cloudy, with a high around 45. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: Periods of snow showers. Low around 17. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 20 to 25 mph becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

 

Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the International Avalanche Danger Scale here)

 

The BOTTOM Line is a MODERATE hazard on high elevation East through NW facing slopes steeper than 35 degrees and LOW hazard throughout the majority of the range. There is an amazing range of ski conditions out there, all bad. The N thru NE thru NW facing snowpack is about 10 – 24” deep and incredibly rotten and weak. A column will collapse in a snowpit without any coaxing. Loose snow avalanches are likely on steep terrain. South facing thru west facing conditions, while stable avalanche wise, are even more gruesome for skiing with a combination of breakable crusts and rotten snow. For snowmobiling, off trail, it’s simply too thin to win. Be careful out there folks and remember, the underlying snowpack is quite weak at the moment; any significant amount of new snow from tonight’s storm will cause the avalanche danger to skyrocket.