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 Friday, February 16th, 2007 at 9:00 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

 

  

General Conditions:

            We are issuing a SPECIAL AVALANCHE STATEMENT for the Wasatch Plateau/Manti-Skyline Region for today through the rest of the President’s Day weekend. 

          Please Read!!!!!!   Be especially careful when traveling in avalanche terrain this weekend.  The first big storm of the season is going to bring increased usage to the back country.  Storm totals of over 12”, rapid cornice development and active wind-loading on leeward slopes and ridges make this a HEADS UP SITUATION.  Ensure that you do not fall into human traps such as “powder fever” and “scarcity”.  This will be tough to do, as this weekend will have the best conditions of the season to date.  Realize this:  A few seconds of bliss is not worth losing your life.  Traveling in avalanche terrain is not recommended for users who don’t have formal avalanche training.  Do not approach cornices, stay away from the run-out zones of avalanche paths and travel one at a time in avalanche terrain.  Sunny skies and new snow make it difficult to realize that there are hazards out there that could ruin your day.    

 

Mountain Weather:

Today: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Probability of measurable precipitation 40 percent. West wind 22 mph. High 27.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Chance of snow. Probability of measurable precipitation 30 percent. Northwest wind 16 mph. Low 16.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Northwest wind 10 mph. High 30.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Southeast wind 15 mph. Low 19.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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’):

31”

3”

28

Powder!

Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):

19”

1”

26

Winds out of the WNW at 13 gust to 21

Skyline Wind Site (SH 31):

Wx down

Wx down

Wx down

Wx down

Miller Flat Trailhead: 

38””

3”-5”

~

Powder!

 

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

             Heavy snow, transport wind and a very weak snow pack structure all adds up to increased avalanche danger.  Consistent strong winds from the West-Northwest will be transporting snow onto ESE through North aspects.  Observations from yesterday pointed towards many instabilities.  Large, overhanging cornices have developed on leeward sides of slopes and ridges and are very sensitive.  The can and will entrain tons of snow with them when they fail.  Avalanches have been reported failing to the ground on Northerly aspects.  Shooting cracks and collapsing is the norm out there. 

            The BOTTOM LINE for today will be an AVALANCHE DANGER of CONSIDERABLE on all aspects where recent slabs and sensitive cornices have been deposited.  This will especially be true in the steep alpine bowls south of State highway 31. 

            Do not drop your guard due to Powder Fever!  Base your travel and recreation on Mother Nature’s signs and by testing small slopes before committing to larger, potentially more dangerous slopes.  Have fun, but be careful.