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, January 24th, 2006 at 8:30 am. 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 TO 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.

 

MLAC NEWS: We have started an observer page for folks to send us their backcountry observations. Report what you see in your backcountry travels HERE. Please send us your reports on avalanches, ski conditions, road conditions, snow pit profiles etc. Thanks! You can also report observations at 435-636-3363. We have been working on the internet link for the Pre-Laurel Peak weather station and will have that online hopefully by the end of the week.

  

General Conditions:

             Good Powder skiing and riding can still be found in most areas of the La Sal mountains, except for south facing slopes which may have developed a crust after a few days of sun. Low winds, and cool dry weather will have kept the snow nice in most areas however, making for the best conditions we have experienced in the La Sals this year. The Tag-a-Long Sno-Cat has made some runs up and down the Geyser Pass road so the skate skiing should be improved greatly, thank you Bob and Alex. Don’t wait too long if skating is your game as more snow is in the forecast Wednesday and Wednesday evening. The skiing is definitely improving in the La Sal the last week or so, but remember the ground cover is still dangerously thin out there.

 

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead has been plowed and is in great shape for all vehicles.

 

 Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

             Today: Sunny, with a high near 38. South wind between 5 and 15 mph.
                  Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 8. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
                  Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 34. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New snow                            accumulation of less than one inch possible.
                 Wednesday Night: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low near 18. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of      precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Weather Station/ Location

Snow Depth (HS):  in./cm

New Snow (HN) in./cm

6:00 a.m. Temp (F)

Current Observations:  Wind, 48 hour snow

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): (snotel link)

21’’ 

~

33

warming

Geyser Pass

 N/a

n/a

N/a 

 

Gold Basin and South Mountain

32” 

 

 

warming

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

25

Easterly @ 10-20 mph

 

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

            The calm winds of late have been keeping the avalanche danger down in the La Sals and as more time passes since our last storm the hazard creeps downward on the scale every day. Last night however, the East winds reared their ugly head as they will so often here in the La Sals. This wind will change the avi equation a bit at upper elevations. Today we are calling the avalanche danger MODERATE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees in the La Sal Mountains, with pockets of CONSIDERABLE danger on upper elevation slopes, at, and above treeline. What this means is that while activity is not widespread, the possibility of a human triggered avalanche does exist. This is especially true at upper elevations.  Deep slab instability is a possibility. The snow seems to be weakest right around treeline, and with the winds coming up again finally, this will be the zone to watch. Another thing to start inserting into your avalanche equation is daytime warming. While it’s hard to think about this with Moab temps in the mid teens, the 10,500 ft> forecast high today is almost 40 degrees. Watch out for steep sunny side slopes later in the day if this forecast holds true. We will update this advisory on Thursday Jan 26th.

 

We need your observations! Call 435-636-3363 or use the link near the top of the page to get to the observers page! Yes, DO IT!

Take a look at a snowpit from our tour on 01/15/06 here.