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 Thursday, January 25th at 8 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. Give us a call at 435-636-3363 to sign up or get more info.

 

  

General Conditions:

Variable conditions prevail, with all conditions represented from rock hard wind slabs to rotten cohesion less facets from the surface of the snow to the ground. Barely enough snow to ski at elevation right now. Lot’s of ground hazard for skiers and snow machine riders. Avalanches still being reported from the San Juan Mountains (snowmobile released) which means they are still possible here. We are currently at 67% of normal snowfall for the season with no major snowfall in sight.

 

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead is plowed.

 

The groomers were up on Monday so skate skiing and classic cross-country skiing are good at the moment.

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today...Sunny. Highs in the 40s.
Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows 10 to 20.
Friday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 30s.
Friday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows 10 to 20.
Saturday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the 30s.
Saturday Night...Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Lows 5 to 15.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Weather Station/ Location

Snow Depth (HS):  in./cm

New Snow (HN) in./cm

7:00 a.m. Temp (F)

Current Observations:  Wind, 48 hour snow

Geyser Pass Trailhead (9,600’): (snotel link)

20”

 

25

warming

Geyser Pass

38”

 

N/a 

facets

Gold Basin and South Mountain

36”

 

n/a

Poor Coverage

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

24.6

0-5 MPH NNE

 

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

Not much to report from the La Sals. Most significantly, due to winds and last Sunday’s snow available for transport, there are still pockets of instability being triggered in the San Juan mountains to our east. High winds from the north and northeast have moved the light density snow around from this past weekend and formed wind slabs at and above treeline. The slides in the San Juans were on NW facing slopes indicating cross-loading from NE winds.  While instability in the snowpack does not appear to be widespread, it IS out there. We are currently calling the avalanche danger MODERATE on steep slopes at and above treeline that have been cross-loaded or directly loaded by our predominantly Northerly winds. Watch for and avoid large, rounded, smooth pillows of snow. These areas may firm or hard and hollow sounding.  Again this hazard will not be widespread and it will be the responsibility of the touring party to locate these potential trouble spots. We’ll update this message Saturday morning.