Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center

US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Introduction:

Good morning! This is 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 Fairview and Huntington Canyons. This advisory is brought to you through a partnership of the US Forest Service and Utah State Parks. Today is Saturday, December 6^th, 2003 at 7:30 a.m. This is a general advisory for the weekend of the 6^th and 7th.

Mountain Weather:

We have a storm coming our way from the Northwest that should be to the area sometimes this afternoon. Currently at the Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL site there is 13.00” of snow on the ground and a temperature of 36.0 degrees. WINTER STORM WARNING THIS AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY. Forecast as follows:

Today: Periods of snow/rain. Highs in the upper 30’s, winds out of the SW at 20-30 mph. 1”-2” possible.

Tonight: Windy. Snow. 2”-4” possible. Winds out of the SW at 20-30 mph. Lows around 30.

Sunday: Snow continues, 5”-9” possible. Colder. Winds out of the NW at 20-30 mph. The storm will move out of the area by Monday afternoon.

General Conditions:

The past week of warm weather has reduced our snow pack by six inches! We have about 18” of snow on the ground at Miller Flat Reservoir, and on southerly aspects the sage brush and rocks are poking out of the snow. Be weary of obstacles buried just under the surface of the snow. And be careful on the road! Right now they are fine, but with the amount of precipitation forecasted and some windy conditions, they will become dangerous and slick. Please drive safely!

Avalanche Conditions:

My main concern is with the storm on our doorstep. With the possibility of some good snowfall amounts coming in this weekend associated with some stronger winds, there is potential for some wind slabs to develop on the leeward aspects. Currently, because of the lack of significant snow on the ground, there isn’t much hazard out there, although up higher on the skyline we found pockets of instability in some isolated wind loaded terrain features Avalanche activity increases during or just after a storm, where the new snow is tender and does not have the time to stabilize. Be careful around cornices and on wind loaded aspects. And always wear beacons and know how to use them when you venture out into avalanche terrain.

Public Announcements:

We will be updating this advisory for the weekend of December 13th. We have some great classes coming your way in January! Take a look at our Education link on the main page. If you want to schedule a free avalanche awareness class for your snowmobile club, please call us at 435.636.3363 or leave an email at [email protected].