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 Monday, January 15th, 2007 at 8:00 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:

                A ridge of high pressure is setting up in the Great Basin today and will persist at least through the mid-week.  Valley inversions will be in place during this time period and the higher elevations will warm a bit each day in response to the high pressure.  No news for precipitation…Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL is at 46% of its normal Snow Water Equivalent for this time of year…conditions will be best on designated trails and meadows.  High alpine bowls and thick drainages will still have plenty of ground hazards.  Read on to the avalanche conditions for what to look out for in these areas. 

            It is still cold out this morning, bring extra clothes and warm drinks!

 

Mountain Weather:

Today: Mostly sunny. West wind 8 mph. High 23.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Northeast wind 5 mph. Low 13.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Southeast wind 6 mph. High 25.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Southeast wind 12 mph. Low 13.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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’):

24.3”

0”

-9.0

COLD!!!!

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):

19.7”

0”

-2.0

Winds out of the West at 12 gust to 16

Skyline Wind Site (SH 31):

Wx down

Wx down

Wx down

Wx down

Miller Flat Trailhead: 

23”

~

~

COLD!!!!

 

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

            There has been three days since we triggered a HS-AS-R5-D2-O/G (Hard slab, skier triggered, 100% of avalanche path, enough to injure or kill you) avalanche on an East facing slope at 10,000’.  It was 300’ wide, broke way back on the ridge (started at 22 degrees) and the fracture line was 1’-2.5’ deep.  It ran farther than expected and wider than expected.  Time heals instabilities in the snow pack, the longer these hard slabs stay in place, the tougher they’ll be to fail.  With that being said, keep your guard up…the snow pack structure on the ground is some of the weakest and shallowest I’ve ever seen.  I would not be surprised if some of these hard slabs could still be triggered if the sweet spot is hit. 

            The snow pack on North aspects is weak, uncohesive, sugar snow that will be reactive if we get significant snow fall, when that will be is a good question.  South aspects have breakable sun-crusts in sheltered areas while your west aspects have been stripped by recent winds. 

            The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an AVALANCHE DANGER of MODERATE on North-Southeast aspects where recent wind slabs have been deposited.  Be especially careful on steep wind-loaded slopes above tree-line on East-Southeast aspects.