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 Saturday, January 27th at 6:30 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:

Not much new to report. Variable conditions still prevail, with all conditions represented from rock hard wind slabs to rotten cohesion less facets from the surface of the snow to the ground. There is a little re-cycled powder available for turning in some well-selected locations but in many areas, even at elevation, there is barely enough snow to ski. 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 65% of normal snowfall for the season with no major snowfall in sight. There is a chance of snow midweek.

 

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead is plowed.

 

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

 

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)


Today...Partly cloudy. Highs in the 30s.
Tonight...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows 5 to 15.
Sunday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 30s.
Sunday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows 5 to 15.
Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs 25 to 35.
Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows 5 to 15.
Tuesday...Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Highs in the 20s. Lows 10 to 20.
Wednesday...Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Highs in the 20s. Lows 10 to 20.
Wednesday Night...Mostly cloudy with a 20 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”

 

22

warming

Geyser Pass

37”

 

N/a 

facets

Gold Basin and South Mountain

35”

 

n/a

Poor Coverage

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

17.6

0-5 MPH Northerly

 

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

Not much change occurring in the La Sals right now. The major player right now will be the Northerly winds we’ve had of late gusting up to 70 mph the day before yesterday. A little snow available for transport means that slabs could be built up in downwind areas at and above treeline where the wind has been able to do most of its work. Many of the southerly facing slopes don’t have enough snow to travel on or produce an avalanche. Cross loaded slopes on East and West facing aspects are likely to be the trouble spots for avalanches out there. We are calling the avalanche hazard MODERATE in the La Sal and Abajo Mountains at this time, meaning that human triggered avalanche are still possible. We are even getting down to the lower end of that rating. The next weather producer, if we get any major snow, will likely result in a dramatic avalanche cycle as the snow on the ground continues to deteriorate. We’ll update this message Sunday morning, thanks for calling.