US
Good morning, this 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 |
General Conditions: It’s a mixed bag of conditions out there
right now folks, Hard wind packed snow to rotten, hollow sugar and everything
in between. There’s been about 4” of new snow since Christmas. Expect the ridge of high pressure to
persist through New Years Day and into the Former President Ford’s day of
mourning on Tuesday. Each day
will get a bit warmer with valley inversions in place until Thursday, when an
approaching cold front will pass.
We need some snow to freshen the conditions up and have a winter in
2007. Mountain
Weather: Today: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of
snow. Snow accumulation 1 inch. Probability of measurable precipitation 20
percent. North wind 10 mph. High 26. |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS):
in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
|
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’): |
23” |
0 |
27 |
~ |
|
21 |
0 |
24 |
Winds light out of the West at 4 mph |
~ |
0 |
27 |
Winds light out of the SSW at 6 mph |
|
Miller
Flat Trailhead: |
26” |
0 |
~ |
Thin snow cover, watch for ground hazards! |
Avalanche Conditions:
(Click here
for the International Avalanche Danger Scale) With the underlying weak snow in many areas and all of the wind moving snow around a betting man would have to say there are avalanches possible out there. The question is where? I‘d be most suspect of upper elevation SE – NE facing slopes where there is evidence of wind loading. Yesterday’s westerly winds will help intensify the potential on these slopes. This loading will be evident in the form of rounded, possibly hollow sounding pillows of smooth looking snow. These areas of snow, or slabs, may be pushed a bit father down slope than usual due to high winds and there may be the odd “sledder education pocket” on SW facing slopes as well due to the East winds we’ve had. We are calling the avalanche danger on the Manti-Skyline today MODERATE, which means that human triggered avalanches are possible. The hazard will be spotty and inconsistent dependent on where the winds have deposited the snow. Take care around cornices and have a look before you jump one, there could be a surprise waiting below. We’ll update this message tomorrow morning.
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