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 Monday, February 20th, 2006 at 8:30 am. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

THE AMERICAN INSTITUE FOR AVALANCHE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (AIARE) LEVEL II CLASS IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 3RD-6TH.  THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AIARE, TOM MURPHY, WILL BE ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS AT THIS CLASS.  THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THE MAN HIMSELF.  CALL (435) 636-3363 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP.  THERE ARE STILL A FEW SPOTS AVAILABLE.  

 

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.

 

Hey backcountry users, WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Click HERE to give us your observations…ANY OBSERVATIONS!  Do you know how great it would be to get observations from people that travel to different parts on the mountain range than us?

  

General Conditions:

          Snow in the Moab valley!  1” of snow is greeting us this morning in the valley.  0.20” of water has fallen in the La Sal Mountain’s which translates into at least two inches, maybe as much as four inches of snow at the Geyser Pass Trailhead.  You can expect a little more snow as you move upward in elevation.  The winds have stayed light out of the West-Westsouthwest, averaging between 11 and 14 mph over the past 24 hours. 

           Nordic and skate skiing conditions will be fresh today and so will the backcountry skiing conditions.  A little new snow goes a long way.  The best locations for skiing will be in wind/sun sheltered North aspects below treeline.  On southerly aspects you will be skiing on top of the sun crusts with that dust on crust feeling.  Above treeline, this new snow will be just enough to cover some major ground hazards, skiing above treeline will be marginal at best. 

            The road up to the trailhead has yet to be plowed this morning.  Expect the plows to get up by noon.  4WD is recommended this morning. 

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

                Presidents' Day: Scattered snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high around 18. West northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
                Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 5. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. West northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph.
                Tuesday: Partly cloudy, with a high around 19. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 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’):

27’’/68 cm

2”-4”

17

11 degrees at 7:00 am

Geyser Pass

 50”/130 cm

n/a

N/a 

Gold Basin and South Mountain

38”/96cm 

4+”

N/a 

 

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

2.4 degrees @ 7

@ 7:00 am:  Winds 8 mph, g 15 from WSW

 

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

          0.20” of water in the past 24 hours and generally light winds in the same time period is not really changing the avalanche danger.  There is more snow to blow around and develop slabs yes, but the lack of transport wind, either observed and forecasted is not allowing slabs to develop…currently.  The new snow is covering some isolated wind slabs above treeline and the snow conditions is quite variable over very small distances.  In order for a large avalanche cycle to flush out the weak and variable snowpack structure we are going to need a large snow cycle.  This storm will not have enough punch to do the job. 

          The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an avalanche danger of MODERATE on at or above treeline with small wind slabs on slopes greater than 35 degrees.  These wind slabs will either be cross-loaded or found near the tops of slopes and ridges.