Introduction: Good morning, this is Max
Forgensi with the 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. |
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 |
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Expect more snow up high |
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.
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