Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Advisory

Introduction:

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. It is Tuesday, January 11^th, 2005 at 7:30 a.m. This advisory will expire in 24 hours and be updated again on Wednesday morning.

****************************************** ACCIDENT UPDATE *********************************************

I regret to inform every one of two accidents that occurred early Saturday afternoon on the Wasatch Plateau/Manti Skyline. One accident, occurring in Ephraim Canyon involved two snowboarders, one of which was buried for 30 minutes and rescued by his partner. Unfortunately, this accident resulted in a fatality. The second accident occurred around the Choke Cherry Ridge area and involved a group of snowmobilers. One snowmobiler was caught and buried by the avalanche. This accident resulted in a second fatality. Both groups were using avalanche beacons. Use this link to view a photo from the Ephraim Canyon avalanche accident, more will be on their way when they are available.

Current Conditions:

The Manti Skyline is under an AVALANCHE WARNING UNTIL 12 NOON. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN AFFECT UNTIL WEDNESDAY MORNING. Very strong winds and periods of heavy snowfall will cause considerable blowing and drifting of snow, increasing the avalanche hazard and compromising road conditions. The Skyline has received close to 24” since the New Year, 6” falling last weekend and an additional 14” of snow falling early this past week. Natural avalanche activity has and will continue to happen throughout the weekend. There is plenty of snow on everyone’s favorite designated trails and powder fields, once again this weekend will be a good time to stay away from the steeper terrain until the snow stops falling and wind stops a blowing. The Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL site has 43” of snow on the ground.

Mountain Weather:

Winter Storm Warning in effect until Wednesday morning.

Today: Windy. Possible chance of Thunderstorms. 6-12” expected today. High near 30. Winds will be out of the SW at 20-30 mph.

Tonight: Breezy. Snow. Colder. Accumulations of an additional 6-12” expected. Low near 10. Wind will be veering to the NW and be averaging 15-25 mph.

Wednesday: The storm is starting to abate. Chance of snow expected.

Avalanche Conditions:

The Skyline is in another large avalanche cycle, strong winds and heavy snow will be loading the weak snow pack on the slopes. The snow pack, especially on E-NW aspects, are quite unstable. A large wind-load is overlying a very weak sugar-snow layer, a recipe for large avalanches. The Skyline is under an Avalanche Warning for today until noon. Strong winds, heavy snow, and have and will continue to create unstable slopes, at all elevations and on all aspects. I am going to rate the avalanche danger at HIGH on steep slopes with recent wind drifts. A HIGH avalanche danger means that natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches are likely as well. 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 stay clear of avalanche terrain. For the next couple of days, let Mother Nature play with the steep terrain.