Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Advisory

Introduction:

Good Morning! This is Max Forgensi with the USFS Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center with your with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the Wasatch Plateau/Manti Skyline Region, including, but not limited to Huntington and Fairview Canyons. This advisory is brought to you through a partnership of Utah State Parks and the USFS. Today is Thursday, December 30^th, 2004 at 7:30 a.m.

Education:

Be on the lookout for avalanche awareness classes near you! We will be teaching two AIARE Level I Avalanche Course on the Skyline this year, if you are interested, you can contact Max Forgensi at 435.636.3363. They will be an educational three day course with an emphasis on field instruction. The January course is full, although the February 4^th-6^th class is open. Call to sign up!

Current Conditions:

A strong low-pressure system is affecting the area today and will continue to do so for at least the next four days. A WINTER STORM WATCH is in affect for tonight thru Friday night, periods of heavy snow is expected. Snow has been falling on the Skyline, with 2” falling in the past 24 hours. The Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL stake is reading 27” of snow on it and it is 21 degrees out at 7:00 a.m. The winds are howling out of the Southwest, creating wind drifts on the roads and leeward sides (NW aspects) of ridges. Plows will be out on the roads, so drive cautiously.

Mountain Weather:

Snow and wind, snow and wind. Periods of poor visibility.

Today: Breezy. Cloudy with a 60% chance of snow. 1”-2” expected. Winds will be out of the Southwest at 15-25 mph.

Tonight: Cloudy, with a 60% chance of snow. Accumulations of 2”-4” expected. Low near 15.

Friday: Snow. Accumulations of 6”-12” expected. High in the low 30’s.

Avalanche Conditions:

The Skyline is setting up for another large avalanche cycle, strong winds and heavy snow will be loading the weak snow pack on the slopes. The avalanche danger is rising on all aspects and at all elevations, especially on leeward sides of ridges and peaks. I am going to rate the avalanche danger at CONSIDERABLE today on all aspects and elevations, with the avalanche danger rising in response to more snow and wind as the storm continues. Keep your slope angles today below 30 degrees, and travel a safe distance from the run-out zones of avalanche paths. Travel in places that you have some visibility (in trees) or on designated travel routes that stays clear of avalanche terrain. For the next couple of days, let Mother Nature play with the steep terrain. Its close to the New Year, a time to gather with family and friends to celebrate, and this New Year is not the time to test the limits of your snowmobile.