US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Good morning, this 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 Saturday, January 6th, 2007 at 7:45 a.m.     

 

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

 

WE ARE TEACHING A FREE A.I.A.R.E. (AMEREICAN INSTITUTE FOR AVALANCHE, REASEARCH AND EDUCATION) CLASS UP ON THE SKYLINE!

THE CLASS IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 26TH-28TH.  CALL 435-636-3363 TO SIGN UP. 

 

  

General Conditions:

                We finally received the first snow of the New Year on Thursday night.  4” of the white stuff blanketed the Skyline.   Cold artic winds blasted the Skyline from the North-Northwest in the past 24 hours, transporting snow onto South-East aspects and leaving COLD air in its wake.   Snow conditions are decent considering we are at 58% of our normal snow water equivalent.  Trail riding will be great, playing in meadow will be fine although the Alpine bowls will still have plenty of ground hazards…so will some of the forest.  Snowkiters today is a good day.  Winds will start light in the morning and increase as a fast moving system tracks across Northern Utah this afternoon.        

 

Mountain Weather:

Today: Partly cloudy. Snow. Probability of measurable precipitation 20 percent. West wind 10 mph. High 26.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Snow accumulation 2 inches. Probability of measurable precipitation 40 percent. West wind 17 mph. Low 4.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of snow. Probability of measurable precipitation 20 percent. North wind 9 mph. High 29.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of snow. Probability of measurable precipitation 20 percent. Northwest wind 15 mph. Low 12.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Weather Station/ Location

Snow Depth (HS):  in./cm

New Snow (HN) in./cm

7:00 a.m. Temp (F)

Current Observations:  Wind, 48 hour snow

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’):

25”

0

1

4” new on Thursday night

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):

21

0

?

Winds light out of the West at 13 gust to 17

Skyline Wind Site (SH 31):

Wx down

Wx down

Wx down

Wx down

Miller Flat Trailhead: 

32”

0

~

58% of normal, watch for ground hazards!

 

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

            We continue to have a weak snow pack structure on North-East aspects, where a faceted layer mid-pack will raise havoc…when we get a significant load.  The new snow from Thursday night transported to our South-Southeast aspects where there isn’t the same weaknesses due to solar radiation and past wind scouring.  For this weekend the Avalanche Danger will be MODERATE on steep North-Southeast aspects at all elevations.  Human triggered avalanches will be small isolated events…remember it only takes a dump truck of snow to bury you sufficiently.  When we receive our first significant snowfall of the New Year, WATCH OUT, the snow will be tumbling down.