Introduction:  Good morning, this is Max Forgensi with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory.  Today is Tuesday, February 20th, 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:

The hose gave us a good shot of moisture last night in the La Sal’s…0.60” of H20 and over 7” of powder fell last night while it was raining in town.  Strong winds were associated with this event as forecasted…and as soon as the snow stopped a fallin’, the wind stopped a blowin’.  You can expect powder conditions to reign up in the mountains.   Due to the dynamics of the storm…today is going to be the best conditions to date!  Get it while it lasts, temperatures will creep over freezing through the mid-week. 

L.U.N.A. was up yesterday.  Their hard work was erased in one storm…bring out the Nordic gear and keep the skate skis at home.  Mark your calendars for the Lasaloppet on March 24th!

The Grand County Road Department will be up this morning to do some plowing.  Expect the road to the Geyser Pass Trailhead to be cleared by mid-morning.  4WD is recommended. 

  

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: A 20 percent chance of snow before 11am. Partly cloudy, with a high near 32. West southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 35. South southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 10 and 20 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)

26.9”

7”

20

Powder!

Geyser Pass

48”

7+”

N/a 

Powder!

Gold Basin and South Mountain

48”

7+”

n/a

Great riding conditions

Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)

N/a 

N/a 

9.8

Winds out of the WSW at 1 gusts to 5

 

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

There is a big difference between yesterday and today’s conditions.  Yesterday it tried to snow and last night it did…we’ll see what Mother Nature could drum up for avalanche activity from last night’s storm.  With new snow and winds associated with the quick dump, I am suspecting some of the more consistent paths slid.  The good news for South and West aspects is:  #1:  The storm came in warm and left cold…Result:  Better Bonding w/the old snow surface and #2 the winds started strong and tapered off throughout the event…Result:  When there was more snow available for transport, the wind could not move it around.  I believe that those North-East aspects will be tested though and as a result, the BOTTOM LINE for today will be an AVALANCE DANGER of CONSIDERABLE on North through East aspects at and above tree-line.  The rest of the areas will be MODERATE.  You can expect a decent avalanche cycle out of this storm…the fragile balance between strength and stress will be tested today.