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 Monday, February 20th, 2006, at 8:00 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:

                Another dusting of snow overnight. It is still cold up there on the Skyline today and that is the dominant weather player right now. The 6-8” of snow that has fallen over the skyline in the last couple of days will make for great conditions on all aspects as the snow has stayed nice and cold with a minimum of sun. Dress warmly, and expect dynamite conditions of powder on a supportable base.

 

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

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’):  57.5” of snow on the ground.  It is 11 degrees out at 7:00 am.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):  There is 40” of snow on the ground.  It is 6 degrees out at 7:00 am. 

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

 

Mountain Weather: 

Today...Partly cloudy. A chance of snow in the morning...Then scattered snow showers in the afternoon. Highs at 8000 feet 15-20. Chance of snow 40 percent.
Tonight...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows at 8000 feet near zero.
Tuesday...Partly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet near 20.
Tuesday Night...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows at 8000 feet 5 to 10 above.
                                                                                                                

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

Friday we were able to observe some monster cornice failures up on the Skyline. Some of the chunks are as big as a bus.  The snow on the ground is generally stable, except for the fact that we have some weak snow buried under the new snow from this past week. Time heals all wounds they say, and the majority of the new snow has been sitting on this weak layer for a few days now. The snow from Saturday night was a small enough amount to keep the avalanche activity down and these cold temperatures will also help lock the new snow in place.

For today the BOTTOM LINE is going to be MODERATE up on the Skyline.  Be especially careful of large overhanging cornices and areas that have developed shallow wind slabs on North-Easterly aspects.   These wind slabs will be not be widespread and will be most prevalent on upper elevation ridgelines or any other areas with exposure to wind.

 

  Have fun out there! You can also check us out at 7:30 AM on radio station KMTI on Saturday Mornings.

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