US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National
Forest
Introduction:
Good Morning, this is Dave Medara with the
To
check out past advisories, go to ARCHIVE. To check out the current, go to our WEATHER page.
Current
Conditions:
Snow is expected up on the
Manti-Skyline from today all the way through the New Year and into early next
week. The warm weather that preceded these
systems left sun crusts on all aspects except for high elevation shaded
northerly aspects. We received 14” of
snow so far from earlier this week thru last night, and the riding and skiing
conditions are really shaping up.
Obviously, with additional snow and strong winds, the avalanche
conditions are going to change, so read on.
The road has ice and snow in
spots. Due to the increase in traffic up
on the Skyline, please drive slowly and park as efficiently as you can.
Click the links below to find out
up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline.
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL
(8,800’): 34” of snow on the ground.
Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):
There is 20.2” of snow on the ground.
There is about 32” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.
Mountain
Weather:
Today...Windy...Snow and rain. Snow level rising to 8500 feet.
Accumulation 2-4 inches. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 30s. South winds 25-40
mph.
Tonight...Windy...Rain
and snow changing to all snow. Accumulation 4-8 inches. Lows at 8000 feet near
20. Southwest winds 25-35 mph.
New Years Day...Windy.
Mostly cloudy with snow showers likely in the morning...Then partly cloudy with
a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Accumulation 2 inches. Highs at 8000
feet around 30. West winds 25-35 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Avalanche
Conditions: (Click here for the International
Avalanche Danger Scale)
The change is on. As of this forecast we haven’t had quite enough snow to change the avalanche danger significantly, YET. The snow is starting to pile up out there though and it’s time to get the avalanche radar fired up. We’ve had about 14” of new snow spread out over the week and some really warm weather to help lock all the snow in place. Right now, the biggest danger is on steep East-North-Northwest facing slopes at the upper elevations of the skyline that haven’t seen the sun, skier or snow machine traffic. Here the snow is less consolidated, weakest and has the most of last night’s new snow drifted on to it.
The BOTTOM LINE for today is going to be an avalanche danger rating of MODERATE, on steep slopes (greater than 35 degrees) on all aspects of the Skyline. Expect this to increase to CONSIDERABLE if the weather forecast plays out as advertised. The high winds forecast to come in with the new snow this weekend could be a major factor in causing avalanches, particularly on N facing slopes.
*The advisory is also
available via recorded message at (800) 648-7433