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, February 14th at 8:30 am. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

WE ARE STARTING TO FILL UP OUR AIARE LEVEL 2 CLASS BEING HELD IN THE LA SALS THIS YEAR. THE CLASS WILL RUN FROM 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 and it is now operational, see the link below. 

  

General Conditions:

             Not much new to report in the La Sal mountains at this time. Returning to our old standby line, at least we live in Moab and not a ski area and have alternatives to the depression caused by living in a ski town with no snow. Biking, climbing and hiking have been glorious this winter season and on a larger scale, water flows for the Colorado Basin are predicted to be good with an above normal snowpack just about anywhere you go north of here. That being said, we could really use some snow around here. We are down to 77 percent of normal snowfall for the season, and I think the elevations above treeline are even thinner than that. The snowpack is variable and thin with an assortment of sun and wind crusts almost everywhere above treeline. There is still some settled powder to be found in North facing sheltered areas below treeline, but the coverage is still thin and rotten underneath. We’ll need more snow to have a good spring season on the high peaks at this rate. Hopefully we’ll pick more snow than the predicted 1-3” Wed. Night. Skate skiing conditions are excellent to Geyser Pass at the moment. The road is clear but icy.

 

 

 Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Partly cloudy, with a high around 39. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 15 and 25 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a high near 42. Very windy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph increasing to between 35 and 40 mph. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.
Wednesday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low near 18. Windy, with a southwest wind 30 to 35 mph becoming west northwest 20 to 25 mph. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. 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)

25’’ 

0

30

Need snow

Geyser Pass

 N/a

n/a

N/a 

 

Gold Basin and South Mountain

35” 

0

n/a

Need snow

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

18

Southerly @ 20-30 mph

 

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

 

Not much to report from avalanche land today either folks. We have a very weak and variable snowpack out there that does not currently have the stress on any new snow on it. The winds have been strong and have moved a lot of snow around at the upper elevations. There are a few pockets of stiff wind slab bridging over weaker mid-pack and ground level faceted crystals. What this means is that while not very widespread, the danger of triggering a wind slab into older snow, perhaps to the ground, still exists. Lingering instabilities resulting in avalanches with control work in the San Juans confirm this notion. We are calling the avalanche danger in the La Sals MODERATE at this time. Keep an eye out for, and steer clear of bulging, hollow sounding drifts of new snow, especially above tree line. If in doubt, stay on ridgelines and keep the slope angle under 30 degrees.

 

 

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 snow pit from our tour on 01/15/06 here.