US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Good morning, this Dave Medara 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, February 10th, 2007, at 7:30 am.

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

Current Conditions:

Not much new to report from the Skyline at the moment except a different weather forecast finally. No new snow yet. Low snow totals and long high pressure have combined to make this an extremely lackluster snow year. The warm temperatures of late will not have helped the situation much either. Ski and ride knowing there is a lot of ground hazard out there. If and when it does snow, remember that the new snow will be falling on a base of old weak snow and it will not take much new snow to initiate and avalanche cycle. This situation stands out in stark contrast to last years’ banner snowpack. Relief may be on the way however, and while not in huge amounts, snow is in the forecast over the weekend and we can sure use it!

Click the links below to find out up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline.

Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’): 22” snow, 31 degrees out @ 6:00 a.m.

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’): 20” on the ground, winds are 11 mph from the WNW, 30 degrees @ 7:00 a.m.

Miller Flat Trailhead: 24” of snow on the ground.

Mountain Weather:

Today: Mostly cloudy. A chance of snow in the morning...then snow likely in the afternoon. Little or no accumulation. Highs at 8000 feet around 40. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy with snow likely. Accumulation 1 to 4 inches. Lows at 8000 feet in the lower 20s. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Sunday: Rain and snow likely. Accumulation 1 to 4 inches. Highs at 8000 feet in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.
Sunday night: Mostly cloudy with snow likely. Accumulations possible. Lows at 8000 feet in the lower 20s. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Monday: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 30s.

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

Right now we are calling the avalanche danger in the Manti-Skyline region LOW. What to watch out for is what will happen if we get the upper end of forecast amounts of new snow and any appreciable wind. Right now winds are light and they are not predicted to get out of hand. It is worth noting that with even a few inches of new snow, sustained winds of over 15 mph can build dangerously large wind slabs and brittle cornices. These are very common situations on the Skyline. Until we get some new snow, the biggest hazard other than the poor ground cover is the threat of wet slide on steep sunny slopes during the PM daylight hours.

The advisory is also available via recorded message at (888) 999-4019 option 6 or at (800) 648-7433 (OHV-RIDE)