US Forest
Service Manti-La
Sal National
Forest
Introduction:
Good morning,
this is Max Forgensi with the
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:
Over 18” of snow has fallen on
the Skyline in the past 7 days, 6”-7” of which fell last night. The winds have been strong predominantly
from the west and yesterday’s observations showed that the wind had already
done a number with the old snow available for transport. Numerous small slabs were observed on steep
leeward sides of slopes and ridges…today these slabs can only be bigger and
easier to trigger. Read on to the
avalanche conditions for more info. As
for powder conditions, that’s what we have today! Today will be a great day to play in meadows and lower angled slopes. Leave the big alpine bowls alone until the
snow pack stabilizes.
Click the links below to find out
up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline.
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL
(8,800’): 55” of snow on the ground. It is 20 degrees out at 7:00 am.
Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):
There is 35.3” of snow on the ground.
It is 19 degrees out at 7:00 am.
There is about 57” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.
Mountain
Weather:
Today: Snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation
60 percent. West wind 22 mph. High 28.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. West wind 14 mph. Low 12.
Monday: Mostly cloudy. Snow. Snow accumulation 2 inches. Probability of
measurable precipitation 20 percent. Southwest wind 14 mph. High 36.
Avalanche
Conditions: (Click here for the International
Avalanche Danger Scale)
Strong winds and plentiful snow amounts available for transport equates to an increase in the avalanche danger from yesterday. Active wind loading on leeward sides of slopes and ridges will build overhanging cornices and create wind deposits in the starting zones of avalanche paths 12”-18” thick. Conditions are getting tricky out there and today will not be the day to test the power of your snowmachine. The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on SE-E-NE-N aspects on steep slopes greater than 35 degrees. Be careful of cornices on these aspects as well, they more than likely will break further back than expected. For the rest of the Skyline, I am going to rate the avy danger at MODERATE.
Basic
Avalanche Awareness and Field Day
*The advisory
is also available via recorded message at (800) 648-7433