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 Saturday, February 11th, 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:

The wind and sun have been at work along the Skyline this week resulting in a lot of crust formation on almost all aspects. There is a bit of settled powder to be found out there for skiing or snowboarding if you can find a wind sheltered area. On all sunny aspects, ESE through West, expect to find varying degrees of breakable sun crust, some of which you would not want to fall into without a helmet on…Expect and prepare for COLD temperatures today.

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

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’): 53” of snow on the ground. It is 5 degrees out at 7:00 am.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’): There is 33” of snow on the ground. It is 12 degrees out at 7:00 am.

There are 56” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

Mountain Weather:

Today...Sunny. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 20s.
Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows at 8000 feet 5 to 10 above.
Sunday...Mostly sunny. Highs at 8000 feet around 40.
Sunday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows at 8000 feet 10-15.
Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 30s.

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

Last weekend produced some large cornice drops and corresponding slab avalanches at the upper elevations along the skyline, some of which are clearly visible from SR 31. Expect to find a lot less of this stuff going on after the week of high pressure. Instabilities in the new snow are very difficult to find in the snowpack right now and even when identified, they are very stubborn to respond. What this means is that the avalanche danger is LOW, on all aspects and slopes along the skyline. The only hazard I would watch out for out there are some of the large cornices that have formed along upper elevation ridge lines. These could be sensitive to the weight of a skier or snow machine and could spectacularly pull the rug out from under you. Have fun out there! 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