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 Wednesday, March 21st, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. This advisory will expire in 24 hours.

The season is coming to a close fast. Advisories will be posted on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, unless conditions warrant.

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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.

General Conditions:

Finally, a break in the hot weather. Clouds loom over the La Sal Mountains for the first time in weeks. The temperatures at the Geyser Pass Trailhead were warm enough last night that rain could have fallen, and it does not appear that any snow fell on the tops of the mountains. At least temperatures at 11,700’ are below freezing currently or the melt down would continue.

Skiing conditions on South through West aspects continue to produce corn skiing (not today) and upper elevation North through East aspects are holding a mix of winter and spring snow…very variable and not recommended in this current condition. If anyone is actually reading this report today, my recommendation is to do some spring-cleaning or go for a mountain bike ride. Lets hope we get some snow out of this system that is moving through the region.

Mountain Weather: (At 10,500’)

Today: Snow showers likely. Some thunder is also possible. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Thursday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 42. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

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)	10.8”	~	36.9	warm
Geyser Pass	~	~	N/a	warm
Gold Basin and South Mountain	36”	~	n/a	warm
Pre-Laurel Peak Station (11,705’)	N/a	N/a	25	34 mph ave gust to 60 from SSW

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

The avalanche danger will start at LOW on all aspects below 10,500’ and on all South through West aspects. As the day warms up, expect South through West aspects to lose cohesion and the avalanche danger will increase to MODERATE. On North through East aspects at & above tree line, the avalanche danger for today will be MODERATE. Solid travel techniques and continued observations throughout day will be your best tools.