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.
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:
7-11” inches of new snow has
fallen over the skyline in the last 48 hours. The snow has piled up in thick
heavy drifts with some lighter snow underneath making for tough trail breaking
for skiers and inverted conditions that might make it easy for snow machines to
get stuck. Snow measurements from the Skyline area show a good amount of
settlement, so hopefully this “upside down” snow situation will have abated
some overnight. Expect a good sized crowd of folks up there this weekend so do
your best to park efficiently.
Click the links below to find out
up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline.
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL
(8,800’): 57” of snow on the ground. It is 18 degrees out at
Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):
There is 36” of snow on the ground.
It is 23 degrees out at
There are 63” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.
Mountain
Weather:
Today...Mostly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet around 40.
Tonight...Breezy. Snow
likely. Snow accumulation 2-6 inches. Lows at 8000 feet 5 to 10 above. West
winds 15-25 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.
Sunday...Windy. Snow
showers likely in the morning...Then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon.
Mostly cloudy. Much colder. Snow accumulation 1-2 inches. Highs at 8000 feet
15-20. West winds 20-30 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Avalanche
Conditions: (Click here for the International
Avalanche Danger Scale)
Strong winds and the high water
content of the new snow equate to an increase in the avalanche danger from
earlier this week. Active wind loading
on leeward sides of slopes and ridges have built overhanging cornices and
created wind deposits in the starting zones of avalanche paths much thicker
than the 7-11 inches of new snow we’ve received. The lower density layer of new snow beneath
all the new snow from this week is a possible culprit for failure. The winds
have died down a bit and we are moving beyond the typical avalanche window for
new snow but without observations to the contrary, and avalanche activity noted
just yesterday, the BOTTOM LINE for today will be an avalanche danger of
CONSIDERABLE
on slopes greater than 35 degrees with E-NE-NW facing aspects. Expect to find a
MODERATE hazard elsewhere. This means that
human triggered avalanches are possible if you get into the wrong spot. Travel
on steep slopes one at a time and keep in mind that any slides that release in
this dense new snow will really pack a punch. Another thing to keep in mind as
we progress towards spring is daytime warming. Especially after a snowfall
event, the power of the sun can cause avalanches to release in otherwise stable
conditions, once things start to heat up. Have fun out there and thanks for
checking in. We will update this message by
Basic
Avalanche Awareness and Field Day
*The advisory is also available via recorded message at (800)
648-7433