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, March 19th, 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 4 am MST Monday. It looks like the snow will continue to fall. Yesterday the Skyline received 0.30”-0.50”. It appears that the Northern part of the Skyline has been favored, over 8” of new snow has fallen at the Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL site while down in Ephraim Canyon 4”-6” has fallen. Today will be a great day to get out and enjoy these late winter snowfalls. Powder will be prevalent everywhere today, read on to the avalanche conditions for more information.

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

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’): 67” of snow on the ground. It is 20 degrees out at 6:00 am.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’): There is 49” of snow on the ground. It is 16 degrees out at 6:00 am.

There is about 72+” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

Mountain Weather:

Heavy Snow Warning in effect until 4 am MST Monday
Today: Snow. Snow accumulation 2 inches. Probability of measurable precipitation 90 percent. Southwest wind 10 mph. High 26.
Tonight: Snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 70 percent. West wind 8 mph. Low 9.
Monday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 40 percent. Northwest wind 9 mph. High 32.

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

The Wasatch mountains have been seeing shallow soft slab avalanches out of this storm and short bursts of sun in between storm pulses. Avalanches up there are not very big, but large enough to mention. With more snow on the way, I believe that back country users will see some of these tender soft slabs. If you are going out to high mark today, start on small slopes and test results before moving to their larger next door neighbors.

Today the BOTTOM LINE will be an avalanche danger of CONSIDERABLE on all steep slopes of the Wasatch Plateau. Danger zones are upper elevation, E – NW facing slopes or anywhere else with significant wind loading. Cornice falls are another potential problem. The lower elevations will have an avalanche danger of MODERATE. Thanks for checking in and we will be updating this next weekend.

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