SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |
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Please note the the LSAC has changed the date of our 3-day AIARE Level 1 avalanche class from the last weekend of January to the first weekend of February. The dates are now February 5,6,7. Click here for more info. We have two more spots left in the course! |
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BOTTOM LINE
Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper.
(click HERE for tomorrow's danger rating)
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Danger Rose Tutorial
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Click here to see the newly revised North American Avalanche Danger Scale.
CONSIDERABLE Avalanche Danger can be found in the Mountains of SE Utah including the La Sal and Abajo Ranges. Reports of excellent conditions are coming in for shady side slopes. Sunny side slopes are crusted over. Avalanche Dangers are SLOWLY diminishing but persistent weak layers below deep slabs have resulted in several fatalities across the state in the last week. We have these conditions here in SE Utah as well. In fact, they've been distilled to perfection across this region since long before we started triggering avalanches in search of powder. Travel conservatively please. |
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CURRENT CONDITIONS |
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Excellent Conditions can be found for skiing and riding in the Mountains of SE Utah at this time. Shady side conditions at and below treeline are skiing well. Sunny sides are a bit baked. Recent Snowfalls have upped our snow totals to 108% in the La Sals with 51" of snow on the ground at the Gold Basin Study Plot. We are at 159% of normal snowpack measured at the Camp Jackson SNOTEL site in Abajos. More snow is possible over the next couple of days.
The San Juan County Road crew was finally able to come up to the La Sals and widen the road out. Trail accesses to the east and west side of the La Sals are open. SJ county needs to be recognized for their effort here, as Monticello is absolutely buried. Buildings in Monticello and Blanding have been collapsing. The fact that they get up here at all in times like this needs to be appreciated. Thanks Guys.
The entire La Sal Nordic track has been groomed for skate and cross-country skiing. Thanks LUNA. |
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RECENT ACTIVITY |
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Tukno W face, Taking Mountain Cirque (several) and the Upper Horse Creek basin have all produced class 2-3 activity. Other activity throughout the La Sals appears to have occurred during the Martin Luther King week storm and to have been covered up by subsequent snow. |
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THREAT #1 |
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PROBABILITY |
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TREND |
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Over the next
48 hours.
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Click here to see the newly revised North American Avalanche Danger Scale.
It has been about a week since the the last snowfall in the area. It has been a needed break for plow crews. Winds across the areas are light and variable this morning. This combined with a break in the snowfall is prompting me to grudgingly lower the Danger Rating. Very grudgingly. I hesitate to do so with the rash of accidents we've had in the state over the last week. These accidents have been caused by deep slabs releasing into old snow on persistent weak faceted grains. As witnessed by the Fatalities up north, the ride you'll get from one of these things may be unsurvivable. Melt freeze crusts on the sunny side slopes and mother nature adjusting to the new load on the shady side slopes are making the Mountains in SE Utah a bit safer, but there is still weak snow out there that could be triggered by the weight of a backcountry traveler. Thinner snowpack areas with connectivity to larger slopes such as trees on the edge of a meadow, rock outcrops and convexities are all areas where a person could trigger a slide. The high tide of avalanche danger is slowly receding, but with danger level 3 - CONSIDERABLE - still in the forecast, you must travel with care using snow stability analysis and proper travel protocols in the backcountry. If you are unable to do this, then stay well away from avalanche terrain. |
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MOUNTAIN WEATHER |
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National Weather Service Forecast for 10,000 Ft. :
Today: A 20 percent chance of snow after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 31. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 17. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Thursday: Snow likely, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 27. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. West southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph. Friday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. West southwest wind around 10 mph. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Saturday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Saturday Night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 18. Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28.
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
As the season gets underway, we would like to thank the hard working volunteers at the Friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. Without their help the center would not meet it's funding or staffing requirements. Thanks all! If you would like more information about donating to the Friends or simply helping out, click here.
Local Avalanche Education:
LSAC Level One Avalanche Class - 3 days, February 5-7 - Call 435-636-3363 to reserve a spot or get more info.
This advisory will expire in 48 hours! |
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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur. |
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This advisory provided by the USDA Forest Service, in partnership with:
The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake Unified Fire Authority and the friends of the La Sal Avalanche Center. See our Sponsors Page for a complete list. |
