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 Tuesday December 27th 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:

 

Expect Last night’s new snow to change things in the La Sals. Not enough to make the skiing great or cover all the ground hazard, but better than a poke in the eye. The snow enthusiast should be able to find some good turns off the Laurel Highway today. Folks in the Abajos, which got only 2-3 inches from this storm, are just going to have to wait for some more snow before we get adequate cover. More snow is possible later this week.

 

Expect the road to the Geyser Pass TH to be unplowed and snowy with drifting.  4WD or chains are still required.

 

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’):  7.5” at the SNOTEL. 15” at the GPTH Snowstake. 21 degrees at the Geyser Pass trailhead at 7:00 a.m.  32 degrees in Moab.

 

Gold Basin and South Mountain:  24” 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: Areas of snow, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 29. Northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 13. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 41. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low near 18. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 37. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west northwest. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

 

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

 

The change is on. New snow loads applied to the weak underlying snow in the La Sals are going to be unstable. The relatively small amounts of new snow are going to keep the avalanche activity down to a CONSIDERABLE level below treeline. Above treeline and in any other areas that could be loaded by last night’s west and southwest winds, the avalanche danger rating for today will be HIGH, meaning that human triggered avalanches are likely if you venture out into terrain steeper than 35 degrees This will be particularly important on E-NE-N facing slopes where the snow is weakest and the most new snow is likely to be found.  Stay off any areas of hollow sounding snow or stiffer drifts of snow that produce a “drumming” sound. Pay attention to obvious signs of instability such as cracking or “whoomping” sounds coming from the snowpack. Let’s have fun out there, but not forget about basic avalanche safety in our rush to get out on some of that fresh powder. I’ll update this forecast tomorrow morning.