Introduction: Good morning, this is Max
Forgensi with the The season is coming to a close fast. Advisories will be posted on Wednesdays, Fridays and
Saturdays, unless conditions warrant.
The
LaSalloppet is still on!
The groomed track is incredible.
BE READY! Come on up on
Saturday, March 24th.
Race starts at 9:00 am at the Geyser Pass Trailhead. Sign up at the Moab Springs Ranch
starting at 7:30 a.m. You
definitely want to be involved in this great race! 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: Did you really think winter was gone
for the season? The hot, dry
weather for the first three weeks of March may have brought out your river
and biking gear, but don’t put away the skis yet. We are currently in a good flow with wrap-around moisture
on the back-side of a low pressure system moving through Colorado. Nice precipitation enhancement is
occurring due to this through East Central Utah. We will get a break from this unsettled weather Sun-Mon
time frame and then winter weather will return on Tuesday. The La Sal Mountains took a hit from
this warm weather that’s for sure.
We are currently sitting at 31% of snow water equivalent up in our
islands in the desert. Many west
and south aspects lost snow completely on them while North and East aspects
went into a melt-freeze cycle up to 11,500’. Snow conditions will be variable, mainly dust on
supportable crust to dust on breakable crust. It should be fun.
Corn skiing will have to wait until these two systems move through our
area and the temps start to warm up again. Mountain
Weather: (At 10,500’) Today:
Periods of snow
showers, mainly before noon. Some thunder is also possible. High near 38.
Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest. Winds could gust as high
as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of
1 to 3 inches possible. |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS):
in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
|
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
Geyser Pass
Trailhead (9,600’): (snotel link) |
11.1” |
~ |
31 |
1-2” new |
|
~ |
~ |
N/a |
Groomed track for Lasalloppet |
|
36” |
~ |
n/a |
2” new |
N/a |
N/a |
Temp Down |
Winds 4 mph
gust to 11 from ENE |
Avalanche Conditions: (Link to the
International Avalanche Danger Scale here)
– Due
to the cool down and everything locked in place, the avalanche danger will be
at LOW on all aspects below 10,500’
and on all South through West aspects. On North through East aspects at
& above tree line, the avalanche danger for today will be MODERATE. There is definitely cold snow in the
Alpine on these aspects, route selection and good down-hill skiing techniques
will keep you out of trouble.
Enjoy the last bastion of winter! |