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 Sunday, February 18th, at 8:30 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 few 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 on Friday and groomed into Gold Basin…they will be up on Monday to groom the whole track.   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: Partly cloudy, with a high near 44. South southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph.
Presidents' Day: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 31. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west northwest 5 to 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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)

22.5”

0”

31

~

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 

21.8

Winds out of the SSW at 24 gusts to 35

 

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

Good visibility throughout the range on Wednesday and Friday and no new avalanches to report.  The winds have picked up in the past 6 hours out of the S-SSW…the snow available for transport is diminishing and sublimating into the atmosphere with a Relative Humidity of 26%.    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.