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 Thurs, March 9th, 2006, at 8:00 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:

                Heavy snow warning in effect until 5 pm Friday. 6.5 inches of new snow and increasing winds as of yesterday morning. Poor visibility hampered the travels of our intrepid observer, Darce Trotter. Snow was reported to be getting a bit stiffer and warm towards the end of the day yesterday so expect supportable settled conditions out there that may be on the thick side for skiing. Boarding and sledding conditions will be great. With the new snow avalanche conditions will be changing so read on.

                 

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

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’):  54.5” of snow on the ground.  It is 19 degrees out at 7:00 am.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):  There is 35” of snow on the ground.  It is 16 degrees out at 7:00 am. 

There is 59” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

 

Mountain Weather: 

Today...Breezy...Snow. Accumulation 4-8 inches. Highs at 8000 feet in the lower 20s. West winds 15-25 mph.
Tonight...Snow...Colder. Accumulation 6-10 inches. Lows at 8000 feet 5 to 10 above.
Friday...Breezy...Snow. Accumulation 3-6 inches. Highs at 8000 feet in the lower 20s. West winds 15-25 mph.
Friday Night...Mostly cloudy with snow likely. Accumulations possible. Lows at 8000 feet 10 to 15. Chance of snow 60 percent.

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

                The new snow seems to be bonding well to last week’s rain crust and avalanches at this time seem to be limited to the newest snow from March 7th. Expect that this instability will remain as winds increased yesterday building wind slabs, particularly at upper elevations. Skier triggered soft slabs were easy to release yesterday afternoon. With the heavy accumulations predicted today and tomorrow expect a big spike in the avalanche danger before the weekend. We are currently calling the avalanche danger CONSIDERABLE, and we expect it to go higher than that. This means that human triggered avalanches are likely, so, Heads up out there this weekend folks! Thanks for checking in and thank you Darce Trotter.


*The advisory is also available via recorded message at (800) 648-7433