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 with your avalanche and mountain weather advisory for the Wasatch Plateau/Manti Skyline Region, including, but not limited to Ephraim, Huntington and Fairview Canyons.  This advisory is brought to you through a partnership of Utah State Parks and the USFS.  Today is Sunday, December 4th, 2005 at 7:45 am.  

 

To check out past advisories, go to ARCHIVE.  To check out the current, go to our WEATHER page. 

 

This weekend the folks from OZONE is hosting a snow-kiting festival on December 3rd and 4th.   Demos and lessons will be available for anyone who shows up on top the Skyline!

 

Current Conditions:

                Snow has been the norm up on the Manti-Skyline for this past week, 4” of snow fell in the past 24 hours and 24” of snow has fallen in the past seven days.  Today will even be colder than yesterday, currently it is 9 degrees out at the Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL at 6:00 a.m.   The roads will be snow covered so drive with caution.  There has been plenty of wind loading and there has been some avalanche activity up on the Skyline, so read on to the Avalanche Conditions

 

Click the links below to find out up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline. 

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’):  23.7” of snow on the ground, 9 degrees out at 6:00 a.m.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):  There is 15.2” of snow on the ground, 5 degrees at 6:00 a.m.

 

Mountain Weather: 

Today...Breezy. Partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Highs at 8000 feet near 20. West winds 15-25 mph.
Tonight...Mostly cloudy. Lows at 8000 feet zero to 5 above.
Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet in the lower 20s.

 

Avalanche Conditions: 

                Yesterdays poor visibility hindered efforts to observe natural avalanche activity up on the Skyline, although small windows showed some natural avalanche activity some of those ridges and bowls in the higher elevations.  At least one of the avalanches failed to the ground and newly deposited soft wind slabs failed under a persons weight.  The heavy, 15%-17% snow we received two days ago is sitting on top of a weaker lighter density snow layer that can and will fail to the ground on those NW-E aspects.  Yesterday the snow that fell was much colder and lighter.  Don’t let the 4” of this light density snow fool you into believing the snow pack is so safe and fluffy.  With the forecast calling for better visibility today, I think more people will be venturing into avalanche terrain…be careful!   

                For the AVALANCHE  hazard today, the Bottom Line is going to be CONSIDERABLE on those Northwest through Easterly aspects on slopes greater than 35 degrees, especially above 9,500’.  Be careful of your runout zones of the avalanche paths!  Even high-marking below some of these slopes could trigger a sympathetic avalanche above you.  Plenty of whoomphing and cracking was observed this weekend…those whoomps and cracks can transmit their energy over a half mile in the snowpack!  Remember, a CONSIDERABLE hazard rating means that natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are probable on those steep N-E aspects.   Cornice development along the top will be occurring throughout the day.  When cornices grow rapidly, that is the time they are the most unstable, so be careful!  For the rest of the area I am going to rate the Avalanche Hazard at MODERATE.

                Once again, get out and practice with your transceivers as well.  Lets build good habits from the get go.  If you do not own an avalanche transceiver, there are a couple stores in the Sanpete Valley that sells them, hmmm a Christmas present? 

 

                *The advisory is also available via recorded message at (800) 648-7433