US Forest Service Manti-La Sal
National Forest
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: The flow aloft across Mountain Weather: Today: Mostly sunny. Highs at 8000 feet
in the mid 20s. |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS): in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
|
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL
(8,800’): |
23.2” |
0” |
14 |
Warmer in mtns than valleys |
Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’): |
20.8” |
0” |
11 |
Winds out of the WNW at 4 gust to 6 |
Wx down |
Wx down |
Wx down |
Wx down |
|
Miller
Flat Trailhead: |
25” |
~ |
~ |
Good trail riding |
Avalanche Conditions:
(Click here
for the International Avalanche Danger Scale) Conditions have been very benign, with the lack of any new snowfall and
warm temperatures. Recent High
pressure and the associated cold, clear nights have been breaking down the
upper layer of the snowpack resulting in a condition called Neear Surface
Faceting. When this process occurs water vapor moves upward through the
snowpack because of the temperature difference (or gradient) between the
temperature of the snow near the surface and the air temperature. Water vapor
flows through the upper part of the snowpack causing a metamorphic process in
the snow crystals called Faceting. These faceted crystals form a weak, sugary
layer that will not hold the weight of a new load of snow. In the lower half
of this snow pack, faceted grains exist as well due to similar processes
earlier in the year. We have a bed
surface, weak layers(s) and the terrain for avalanches to slide upon. What we need now for a LARGE avalanche
cycle is a significant load. It
appears that we do not have a weather maker for this load to develop and as a
result the Avalanche Danger for today will be LOW. Travel will generally be safe, although be
aware of areas of hard wind slabs on leeward sides of slopes and ridges on
SE-E aspects. We spied more hard slabs
yesterday in |