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 Sunday, April 2nd, 2006, at 8:00 am. THIS WILL BE OUR FINAL FORECAST FOR THE 2005-2006 SEASON!

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 12-14 inches of snow has fallen this week complemented by another 2“of new snow last night. Warm wet, spring snow will be the theme today with some decent skiing and riding conditions, particularly if you keep to northerly aspects. On anything but NE-NW facing slopes, expect to find the crust from 2 days ago under the snow from Friday and Saturday night. No big deal on a machine but you’ll feel it skiing. Have fun out there. Oh yeah, more snow in the forecast for midweek.

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 17 degrees out at 6:00 am.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’): There is 62” of snow on the ground. It is 22 degrees out at 6:00 am.

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

Mountain Weather:

Today...Partly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet around 40.
Tonight...Partly cloudy. Lows at 8000 feet in the lower 20s.
Monday...A 20 percent chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 40s.
Monday Night...Mostly cloudy with rain and snow likely. Accumulations possible. Lows at 8000 feet in the upper 20s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Avalanche 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 Friday and Saturday night. The major player in the avalanche equations right now is the recent winds. With loading from the south winds and west 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. Keep back from those big cornices, especially when things get warm. Remember it’s that wet slide time of year, if the sun pops out or things do get really warm, be aware of the potential for afternoon wet slides when things get sloppy. Thanks for Checking in.

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