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, April 1st, 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:

                More snow continues to fall on the Skyline and winter just won’t give it up….Another 10-12 inches of snow has fallen this week complemented by another 2-4 “of new snow last night. The snow surfaces as of yesterday afternoon were thin, unsupportable crusts on all aspect except NE-NW. If you’re looking for powder turns, you’d better keep your slope aspects as northerly as possible or you’ll be feeling the crust from warm temperatures earlier this week. . Conditions are supportable for snow machines on all aspects and last nights’ new snow will freshen things up for skiing and riding.

 

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

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’):  66” of snow on the ground.  It is 30 degrees out at 6:00 am. 

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):  There is 57” of snow on the ground.  It is 26 degrees out at 6:00 am. 

There is about 77” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.

 

Mountain Weather: 

Today...Snow showers likely in the morning...Then snow and a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Accumulation 1-3 inches. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 30s.
Tonight...Snow showers in the evening...Then a chance of snow showers after
midnight. Accumulation 1-2 inches. Lows at 8000 feet 15 to 20.
Sunday...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 30s.
Sunday Night...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Lows at 8000 feet in the lower 20s.
Monday...A chance of snow in the morning...Then a chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. Warmer. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 40s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

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

Warm temperatures this week have settled out the snow and crusted over most aspects before the new snow from last night. With loading from the south winds and the only dry snow left being on NE-NW aspects, these will be our areas of concern avalanche wise. These slopes, and those looming cornices out there. We are calling the avalanche danger MODERATE today meaning that human triggered avalanches are still possible. Steep, upper elevation NE-NW facing slopes will be the primary danger areas, as well as the big cornices that have formed out there. Don’t get fooled, keep back from those big cornices, especially when things get warm.


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