US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

 Introduction:  Good morning, this is Max Forgensi with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Saturday, February 17th, at 8:00 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.

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:

Skiing conditions in the back country has vastly improved over the past three days.  Coverage levels are decent.  Observers still report “punchy” conditions on sheltered North facing aspects and supportable crust surfaces on West and South aspects above 10,500’.  The Pre-Laurel Peak weather station is not reporting in this morning.  Today is going to be a great day to get up and enjoy some fresh powder. 

L.U.N.A. was up yesterday and groomed into Gold Basin.  If you want fresh corduroy, go on up and get it.  And mark your calendars for the Lasaloppet on March 24th!

The road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead is in good shape, although 4wd is recommended today.

  

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. West wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast.
Sunday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 40. South southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to between 20 and 25 mph. Winds could gust as high as 35 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)

22.8”

0”

15.8

~

Geyser Pass

41”

0”

N/a 

~

Gold Basin and South Mountain

41”

0”

n/a

65% of normal

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

Wx Down

Wx down

 

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

Good visibility throughout the range on Wednesday and yesterday and no new avalanches to report.  The winds have been quiet for the past few days, only pushing a little snow around on the very tops of ridgelines.  We are still under pretty benign conditions when it comes to avalanche activity due to direct action weather.  We know that we have a weak, shallow snow pack…mostly on North and East aspects.  We are still waiting for the storm to tip the scales for a widespread avalanche cycle.  The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an Avalanche Danger on MODERATE.  Always ski one at a time and put a ski cut into a slope before committing to it.