Introduction:
Good
morning, this is Max Forgensi with the
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 weather, go to our WEATHER page.
For
more information on snowmobiling on the Skyline, click this LINK
Current
Conditions:
The decent snowstorm that left 16 of new snow in its wake has been
replaced by a very cold artic air mass.
This high-pressure system will be in place through the weekend and for
most of the work week. Expect valley
inversions to be in place throughout this time period, while the Skyline will
be warming with each day.
As for snow conditions, there
isnt much out there. Kiteboarders will
have enough snow up at the pass to recreate.
Snowmobilers looking for some powder should stay on trails and open
meadows. The upper bowls still have
rock bands and bushes poking through.
Backcountry skiers should travel in areas with smooth ground cover.
The shallow snow cover and cold
temperatures will also be affecting the avalanche danger. Please read on for more information on that
subject.
Click the links below to find out
up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline.
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL
(8,800): 0 new, 17.7 on the ground, 10
degrees out @ 5:00 a.m.
Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000):
0 new, 15 on the ground, winds are 15mph gusting to 22 out of the WNW,
7 degrees @ 5:00 a.m.
Miller
Flat Trailhead: 20 of snow on the ground
Mountain Weather:
Today: Partly cloudy. Isolated snow showers
in the morning. Probability of measurable precipitation 20 percent. North wind
8 mph. High 14.
Tonight: Mostly clear. North wind 5 mph. Low 4.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. West wind 8 mph. High 36.
Avalanche
Conditions: (Click here for the International
Avalanche Danger Scale)
There were no observed avalanches on the Skyline yesterday. A snowpit dug on a Northeast aspect at 9,400 yielded some clues into why. Snowpit observations showed a very weak snow pack with the lower half nothing but weak, faceted crystals. Sitting on top of these persistent grains was the new snow. Stability tests resulted in very easy shears and enough energy to propagate into avalanches. What is missing in this equation is not enough of a stress to get avalanches to fracture. THE POINT TO TAKE HOME IS: The Manti-Skyline has a very weak snow pack that is just waiting for another storm to tip the scales into a widespread avalanche cycle. For today, the Avalanche Danger for the Manti-Skyline will be MODERATE on steep N-E aspects. The rest of the areas will be LOW
The
advisory is also available via recorded message at (888) 999-4019 option 6 or
at (800)
648-7433 (OHV-RIDE)