Introduction: Good morning, this is Max
Forgensi with the CHECK OUT OUR NEW GROOMING
EQUIPMENT HERE. 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. Please give us your observations from
the field HERE. The more observations we get, the
better this forecast can be. |
General Conditions: Precipitation is staying to our North
for the next couple days. The
current westerly flow is not favoring us. Weather will start to change on Friday as the next Pacific
storm starts into our area…warm temps and breezy conditions will precede the
event and we should see snow falling by Saturday afternoon and into Sunday. Decent coverage and moderate
temperatures have kept back country skiing conditions fair except for on
those open Southwesterly slopes that gain the most solar radiation. Be weary of stumps and logs lurking
just under the snow and you might hit an occasional rock. If your looking to go skate skiing, the
GROOMED
Nordic and Skate Ski trails will be up and running after LUNA’s (Lower
Utah Nordic Alliance) volunteer groomer training this weekend. Go out and enjoy the snow! Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’) – |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS):
in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
|
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
Geyser
Pass Trailhead (9,600’): (snotel link) |
14.5” |
|
28 |
68 cm at our Trailhead Study Plot |
|
~” |
~ |
~ |
Powder |
|
90 cm |
~ |
~ |
POWDER |
N/a |
N/a |
22.4 |
10 mph gust to
20 from NNW |
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)
– It has been four days
since our last storm and temperatures have been creeping over freezing at
9,600’ for the past couple days.
The natural avalanche cycle is over, although human-triggered
avalanches are still possible.
The La Sal Mountains continue to have a shallow snow pack and in most
places, the lower half of it are faceted, poorly bonded grains. Natural avalanches have failed on
East-North-West aspects.
Westerly aspects have probably gained some strength due to solar
radiation and will not as reactive as they were just after Sunday’s
storm. North and East aspects
just don’t get any solar gain these days and they also have a buried surface
hoar layer up to 11,000’. These North-East aspects is where you should be
concerned with today. For today
the La Sal Mountains will have an Avalanche Danger of MODERATE. Be careful on steep N-E aspects, and
at all elevations. Enjoy the snow and we
will update this tomorrow morning.
|