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 Thursday, January 26th, 2006 at 7:45 am. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

ONE MORE SPOT IS LEFT IN OUR LEVEL 1 COURSE WHICH STARTS ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3RD.  4 MORE SPOTS ARE LEFT FOR OUR LEVEL 2 COURSE STARTING ON FRIDAY MARCH 3RD.  CALL (435) 636-3363 FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO SIGN UP.

 

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.

Do you have an observation?  Please go to our OBSERVERS page to send us one!  We need observations from the La Sal Mountains!

  

General Conditions:

             The past two days have been warm and sunny, but today…powder conditions are back in the La Sal Mountains.  0.40” of H20 has fallen in what looks like 5” of snow at the Geyser Pass Trailhead.  Winter in Moab is finally here and it looks like the backcountry, skate and Nordic skiing conditions are improving a little each and every week.  There has been plenty of wind associated with the storm currently, read on to the avalanche conditions to find out more.  The Abajo mountains has received 10” of snow overnight and it looks like it started warm and is ending colder. 

 

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead will be plowed today by about lunchtime.   

 

 Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT TODAY UNTIL 6 PM MST

           Today: Periods of snow, mainly before noon. High around 27. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.    New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
           Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
            Friday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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)

24’’ 

5”

21

COOLING

Geyser Pass

 N/a

n/a

N/a 

 

Gold Basin and South Mountain

36” 

 

 

COOLING

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

In C

SSW @ 20 mph gusts to 42

 

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

            Before this storm, the La Sal Mountains still had most of its weak continental snow pack in place…there have been a few avalanches here and there, but most areas had yet to be “flushed” by avalanches to start building a stronger snowpack.  Depth hoar crystals are very sensitive to new loads, especially when the snowpack is shallow like it is in most areas.  The winds were very strong out of the South-Southeast for the past 24 hours, transporting old and new snow alike onto N-NW-NE aspects.  These aspects are where you will find most of the monster depth hoar crystals that are likely to fail.  What is it going to take to tip the scales into a full-blown avalanche cycle?  This could finally be the storm.  For today, the BOTTOM LINE is going to be CONSIDERABLE on NE-N-NW aspects above, at and just below treeline, where the wind could deposit snow.  For the rest of the areas we’ll call it MODERATE for today.  Remember, avalanches usually occur during or 24 hours after a storm…this is the time you give Mother Nature a wide berth to do what she has to do.   Enjoy all the powder!

 

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.