US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction:

Good morning, this is Max Forgensi 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 Sunday, February 26th, 2006, at 8:30 am.

If you have been out in the backcountry, please post your OBSERVATIONS with us!

To check out past advisories, go to ARCHIVE. To check out the current, go to our WEATHER page.

If you would like to see some SNOWPIT profiles, click the link…and more to come.

Current Conditions:

Yesterday saw a lot of people enjoying a beautiful day. Folks were walking, hiking, sledding, skiing, snow-kiting and most definitely snowmobiling. The State Ride yesterday had a great turnout, and it looks like they tracked everything out close to Highway 31 and down towards the south. Today and Monday will be warm up on the Skyline, and then it appears we have a chance for some more snow for the region starting Monday night to freshen up the conditions.

Snow conditions today will be a mixed bag of breakable sun crusts on South and West aspects while North and East aspects will hold some cold, consolidated powder, although you’ll have to travel far to find some untracked powder.

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 22 degrees out at 7:00 am.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’): There is 35” of snow on the ground. It is 21 degrees out at 7:00 am.

There is 58” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

Mountain Weather:

Today: Partly cloudy. South wind 10 mph. High 46.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. West wind 10 mph. Low 24.
Monday: Mostly cloudy. Southwest wind 15 mph. High 47.
Monday Night: Slight chance of snow showers then snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 60 percent. West wind 10 mph. Low 28.

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

Anyone who has been up on the Skyline lately has seen plenty of avalanche activity, mostly from cornices failing and starting avalanches in the top 12-18” of the snow pack. They have been concentrated on North and East aspects. We have had three days of warm weather, which has helped to heal the snow pack and today it is going to be very tough to find a place that is going to avalanche.

For today the BOTTOM LINE is going to be an avalanche danger of LOW in all areas. One area of concern will be where there are large overhanging cornices, don’t hang out on top of them!

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