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 Sunday, January 22nd, 2006 at 8:00 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! If you would like to see some SNOWPIT profiles, click the link…and more to come.

Current Conditions:

Anyone up on the Skyline yesterday enjoyed the great conditions. Cross country skiers, sledders, snowmobilers, snowkiters, etc. were all out in force to have a great time. Today will be another great day to go up and enjoy all the snow the Manti-Skyline has received in the past week. Anywhere from 16”-28” has fallen in the past seven days and with little to no wind. This recipe has made for some incredible powder conditions! The road is in great shape, the parking lots are plowed and on Thursday the Utah State Parks crew groomed the Miller Flat Trailhead to Joe’s Valley Reservoir. This morning is starting off pretty cold, so dress warm!

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

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’): 46.9” of snow on the ground. 2 degrees at 6:00 a.m.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’): There is 35.6” of snow on the ground. 5 degrees at 6:00 a.m.

There is about 53” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

Mountain Weather:

Today: Partly cloudy. East wind 10 mph. High 21.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Northeast wind 10 mph. Low 7.
Monday: Mostly sunny. Northeast wind 8 mph. High 31.
Monday Night: Mostly clear. East wind 12 mph. Low 14

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

All this snow and not much wind so far is making for some primo conditions for snowmobiling and skiing. The snow is starting to settle on the ground and becoming more supportable. Yesterday’s observations showed that the snowpack is more stable than not…test slopes yielded very localized results with only the new snow sloughing on some steep slopes. The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an avalanche danger of MODERATE up on the Skyline. Be weary of cornices and in terrain features that could concentrate a loose snow avalanche and perhaps knock you off your skis or push your snowmobile into an area you don’t want to be. If the wind picks up today the rating could increase.

Basic Avalanche Awareness and Field Day
*The advisory is also available via recorded message at (800) 648-7433