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 Wednesday, March 8th at 10:00 am. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

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

  

General Conditions:

             HOLY MOLEY!!!!   WE have SNOW!!!!!!!   Finally, Mother Nature has turned her jet stream upon the La Sal Mountains and have given us quite a dump in the past 24 hours….and its not over yet.  12” of snow has fallen in the past 24 hours at the Geyser Pass SNOTEL site.  0.80” of H20 has been associated with this snow since midnight and 1.10” of H20 has fallen out of the sky in the form of snow in the past 24 hours.  We are under a SNOW ADVISORY (first time this year) until 6:00 p.m. MST today. 

             Conditions have vastly improved in all areas in the past 24 hours.  The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead has yet to be plowed.  I would recommend chains and 4WD today as the Grand County Road department might have some larger fish to fry before heading up into the mountains. 

 

  Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Periods of snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. High around 23. Blustery, with a north northwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Tonight: A chance of snow showers before midnight, then a chance of snow showers after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Blustery, with a northwest wind between 10 and 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday: Periods of snow, mainly after 5pm. High near 20. Breezy, with a west southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Thursday Night: Periods of snow, mainly before 5am. Low near 8. Wind chill values between -10 and zero. Breezy, with a north northwest wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 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)

26” 

12/30

22

SNOW!

Geyser Pass

 ~

~

 

Gold Basin and South Mountain

~

~

Expect more snow up high 

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

13.4

9:00 am- Winds Light from NW 

 

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

           Critical values have been reached for snow depths and water content.  Before this storm, there were places that held little to no snow, mostly on South through West aspects below treeline.  All other areas in the La Sal Mountains should be treated as suspect today and into tomorrow.  Although the winds have died down in the past 5 hours, the winds were strong enough for 8 hours last night from the Southwest to transport snow onto North-East aspects.  This is where we will definitely be observing natural avalanches.  On South through West aspects, the snow pack structure on the ground was stable before this event and the surface was a frozen melt freeze crust.  The storm temperature’s started out warm and has been getting colder every hour since yesterday, which is good for stability.   The interface between the crust and the new snow will be the deciding factor when it comes to stability on these aspects…any avalanche activity on these aspects will be during the meat of the storm and heal very quickly. 

The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an avalanche danger of HIGH on North-East aspects and CONSIDERABLE on all other aspects at and above treeline.    

 

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.