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 Sunday, March 12th at 7:30 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:

Dense Powder skiing and riding is happening in the Lasal Mountains right now. If you stay light on the skis, you’ll stay in the upper layer of the new snow and not sink in quite as deep. If and when you do, the snow is very deep and it’s easy to get bogged down.  One snowpit yesterday revealed 43” of new snow in a non-wind loaded area. The conditions are great, and will just get better as this snow settles out. Powder snowmachine riding is on tap currently right now as well, good luck if you get your machine stuck though. The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead is unplowed although traffic yesterday made it easily passable. Last night the winds howled so I would expect some drifting and blowing snow to make the driving conditions a bit more challenging. Forget about skate skiing for the time being. Dress warm for the mountain again today to as more snow and cold temps are in the forecast.

 

  Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Periods of snow. High around 11. Wind chill values between -10 and -15. Windy, with a west southwest wind between 25 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Tonight: Periods of snow, mainly before 5am. Low around -2. Wind chill values between -15 and -25. Windy, with a west northwest wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of snow before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 23. Wind chill values between -10 and -20. West wind between 5 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’): (snotel link)

51” 

0

15

deep

Geyser Pass

 195 cm

0

N/a 

Deepest place these days 

Gold Basin and South Mountain

71”/182 cm

0

n/a

 deeper

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

4 cold!

7:00 am-Southerly @ 9 mph 

 

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

Avalanche Warning in Effect for the Mountains of Southern Utah through Monday, March 13, 2006

Snow continues to fall in the La Sal Mountains without a view of the peaks in the last 4 days. Observers in the Mountains have not yet been able to get a look around to check on avalanche activity and it looks like today is no exception. The snow just continues to pile up. We have now officially measured 101 CM (40”) of snow in Gold Basin and 70 CM (27.5”)  at the Geyser Pass Trailhead. This does not include snow totals from last night which looks like another 2-3 inches. Any way you measure it, we’re up to 3 inches of new water weight and there is a large new load on the snowpack. Stability test yesterday showed a poor bond between the old snow and the new snow with an easy shear on some loose granular snow grains. There are also several clean, easy shears within the new snow itself. What this means is that there are several potential failure layers in the snowpack. The new snow is also showing signs of instability, with cracking and collapsing noted in several below treeline elevations. The BOTTOM LINE for today is HIGH avalanche danger on all aspects on slopes steeper than 30 degrees in the La Sal mountains. Heads up! Stay on top of the snow! Update tomorrow  @ 8:00 A.M.