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 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 Friday, January 13th, 2006 at 8:30 a.m.   

 

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

NEW LINK!  If you have been out in the backcountry, please post your OBSERVATIONS with us!

 

Current Conditions:

                The Manti-Skyline is in perfect condition for any winter time activity right now.  The 6” we received (with some wind) on Wednesday has covered up last weekends tracks and there is a fresh blanket of snow for snowmobilers, snow-kiters and backcountry skiers to enjoy.  The UDOT crew has been working hard at maintaining the road and parking lots and the USFS has just made a cleaning run through all the facilities.  Today and this weekend will be beautiful until the snow starts to fly on Saturday night…get up and enjoy the snow, read on to the avalanche conditions first!

 

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

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’):  42” of snow on the ground.  16 degrees at 7:00 a.m.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):  There is 25” of snow on the ground.  17 degrees at 7:00 a.m.

There is about 43” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

 

Mountain Weather: 

Today: Mostly sunny. Southwest wind 6 mph. High 42.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. West wind 7 mph. Low 24.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy. South wind 13 mph. High 42.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 40 percent. Southwest wind 9 mph. Low 23.

 

Avalanche Conditions: (Click here for the International Avalanche Danger Scale)

Yesterday, small natural avalanches were observed on steep leeward ridges in Huntington Canyon and there were some small sloughs in the cold new snow.  The wind was strong enough to transport snow onto leeward sides of slopes and ridges until mid-afternoon.  Cornices were building in places to 8’ tall and were overhanging.  Cornices were also very reactive to a skiers weight…and their failure can and will trigger avalanches on the slopes below them.  Most of these cornices were forming on North-NE-East aspects at all elevations.  DO NOT LET THE NEW SNOW AND BLUE SKY LURE YOU INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY!!  The active wind-loading observed has produced slabs 12”-18” thick  on leeward sides of slopes and ridges.  These are in the places most snowmobilers like to play.  The warmer temperatures expected for today and tomorrow will help the snowpack heal, although I would be weary of any steep slope on a North-NE-East aspect with wind deposits.  The BOTTOM LINE for these areas will be CONSIDERABLE for today.  The rest of the range I am going to rate at MODERATE. 

Be careful on steep shady slopes out there today and practice safe travel techniques. Carry an Avalanche Beacon, shovel and probe and know how to use them. If you don’t know or want to know more then we’d like to invite you to attend a Basic Avalanche Awareness and Field Day starting at the Carbon County Recreation Center, Price, Utah. 7 p.m. at the Rec Center on Friday evening January 20th, with a  Field day Saturday on the Skyline January 21st, 2006.
Basic Avalanche Awareness and Field Day
Carbon County Recreation Center, Price, Utah
7 p.m. at t Center (Friday), Field day Saturday on the Skyline

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