US
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: 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. |
Weather Station/ Location |
Snow Depth (HS):
in./cm |
New Snow (HN) in./cm |
|
Current Observations:
Wind, 48 hour snow |
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL (8,800’): |
31” |
3” |
28 |
Powder! |
|
19” |
1” |
26 |
Winds out of the WNW at 13 gust to 21 |
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. |