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 Sunday, January 7th, 2007 at 8:30 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 continue to blast the Skyline from the West-Northwest in the past 24 hours, transporting snow onto South-East aspects & depositing shallow wind skins in the starting zones of avalanche paths.   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. 

 

Mountain Weather:

Wind Advisory in effect until 4 pm MST Today
Today: Partly cloudy. Northwest wind 10 mph. High 24.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Northwest wind 16 mph. Low 11.
Monday: Mostly sunny. Northwest wind 10 mph. High 31.
Monday Night: Mostly clear. North wind 8 mph. Low 20.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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’):

24.4”

0

5

4” new on Thursday night

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):

21”

0

6

Winds strong out of the WNW @ 25 mph

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 today, the Avalanche Danger will be MODERATE on steep North-Southeast aspects at all elevations.  Be especially weary of newly deposited wind slabs at the top of avalanche paths on South-East aspects.  They might not be very large, but they will be widespread and very reactive to a snowmobile or skiers weight.