US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction:

Good morning, this is Dave Medara 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 Super Bowl Sunday, February 5th, 2006, at 7:30 am.

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:

Up to 2 inches of new snow has fallen along the Manti-Skyline last night with the most falling in the more Northerly regions. This will once again freshen things up a bit and especially along SR 31 and points north. The Powder riding and skiing is excellent overall on the Skyline with the exception of SE-SW facing slopes which have varying degrees on sun crust on them.

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

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’): 56.5” of snow on the ground. It is 17 degrees out at 7:00 am.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’): There is 35” of snow on the ground. It is 10 degrees out at 7:00 am.

There are 61” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

Mountain Weather:

Today...Mostly cloudy. Windy. Numerous snow showers in the morning...Then scattered snow showers in the afternoon. Colder. Snow accumulation 1-3 inches. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 20s. West winds 20-30 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows at 8000 feet zero to 5 above.
Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 30s.

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

Gusty SW winds yesterday moved a lot of snow around at upper elevations helping to build some tender slabs and sensitive cornices. This situation seems to be limited to upper elevations and below the ridge tops the snow seems to be much less wind affected. BOTTOM LINE for today will be an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on slopes greater than 35 degrees with E-NE-NW facing aspects above 9500’. Expect to find a MODERATE hazard elsewhere. This means that human triggered avalanches are possible if you get into the wrong spot. Human triggered avalanches are still being reported in the Mountains to the North with similar snow amounts. Travel on steep slopes one at a time and keep clear of avalanche run outs as you wait your turn. . Have fun out there and thanks for checking in. We will update this message by 7:30 next Saturday morning. You can also check us out at 7:30 AM on radio station KTMI on Saturday Mornings.

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