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, January. 21st, at 7:00 AM. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

 

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. 

 

We’ve re-scheduled our Level I American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education Course for March 2-4 here in Moab. Cost will be 130$. SMOKIN’ deal.

 

  

General Conditions:

The shot of snow we’re forecast to get today is the only storm on the horizon for the next week and likely to be insufficient to improve the conditions in the La Sal and the Abajos. Even if you buy into the NWS forecast (cloud cover is breaking up over the Moab valley as of 0730), with only wrap around moisture from this storm to the south, this system is not going to pack enough of a punch to change the grim snowpack situation in the SE Utah.  There are some slopes in Gold Basin with enough coverage for turns but there is a lot of ground hazard out there still for skiing and snow machines. Reports of snowmobile damage from the Northern part of the Manti-Lasal National Forest have been plentiful. Due to the cold temperatures, the ice is in on Ken’s lake and in the Sloughs. Cross-country skiing and ice skating are the best activities on offer at the moment.  

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead has been plowed. Thank you Grand County.

Skate and cross-country track is groomed into Gold Basin up to Geyser Pass.

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today...A chance of snow in the morning...Then snow likely in the afternoon. Snow accumulation around one inch. Highs 15 to 25. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.

Tonight...Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the evening. Lows 5 below zero to 5 above. North winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light.
Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the 20s. North winds 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows 5 below zero to 5 above. West winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening becoming light.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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)

18”

tr”

8

SNOTEL is reading inconsistently

Geyser Pass

40”

tr”

 

facets

Gold Basin and South Mountain

36”

tr”

n/a

poor coverage

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

1

2 mph NNE, diminishing

 

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

 

Not much to report snow-wise these days. We’ve been keeping the avalanche danger rating at MODERATE because we feel there are still some hard slabs at and above treeline that could be triggered by the weight of a skier. Explosive tests from the Silverton Mountain ski area released some hard slabs yesterday at upper elevations and their snowpack is very similar to ours. Large rounded, possibly hollow sounding pillows of hard snow should be avoided. Patchy coverage will limit this hazard to wind loaded areas only, and it will be the responsibility of the tourer to find out where these areas are.  We’ll update this message Wednesday morning.