US Forest Service
Manti-La Sal National
Forest
Introduction:
Good
Morning, this is Max Forgensi with the
To
check out past advisories, go to ARCHIVE. To check out the current, go to our WEATHER page.
NEW LINK!
If you have been out in the backcountry, please post your OBSERVATIONS with us!
Current
Conditions:
The Manti-Skyline is in perfect
condition for any winter time activity right now. The 6” we received (with some wind) on Wednesday has covered up
last weekends tracks and there is a fresh blanket of snow for snowmobilers,
snow-kiters and backcountry skiers to enjoy.
And there is more on the way. A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. The UDOT crew has been working hard at
maintaining the road and parking lots and the USFS has just made a cleaning run
through all the facilities. Today and
through this holiday weekend will be beautiful until the snow starts to fly on
Saturday night…get up and enjoy the snow, read on to the avalanche conditions
first!
Click the links below to find out
up to date information at these weather stations on the Skyline.
Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL
(8,800’): 40.6” of snow on the ground. 27 degrees at
Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):
There is 24” of snow on the ground.
26 degrees at
There is about 43” of snow on the ground at the Miller Flat Trailhead.
Mountain
Weather:
WINTER STORM WATCH IN
EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT
Today...Mostly cloudy. Breezy. Highs at 8000 feet around 40.
South winds 15-25 mph.
Tonight...Breezy. A chance of snow in the evening...Then snow
after midnight. Accumulation 2-5 inches. Lows at 8000 feet 15-20. West winds
15-25 mph.
Sunday...Snow...Colder. Accumulation 6-12 inches. Highs at
8000 feet in the mid 20s.
Sunday Night...Snow likely. Colder. Accumulations possible.
Lows at 8000 feet 5 to 10 above. Chance of snow 70 percent.
Avalanche
Conditions: (Click here for the International
Avalanche Danger Scale)
Temperatures yesterday were above freezing for 8 hours, with a high near 46 at 8,800’, while at 10,000’ the temperatures snuck above freezing for only 3 hours. These warm temperatures have made the snowpack less sensitive. A few days ago, cornices were very reactive to a skiers weight. Today maybe snowmobiles could trigger them. Most of these cornices were forming on North-NE-East aspects at all elevations. The active wind-loading observed has produced slabs 12”-18” thick on leeward sides of slopes and ridges. These are in the places most snowmobilers like to play. I would be weary of any steep slope on a North-NE-East aspect with wind deposits and around overhanging cornices. The BOTTOM LINE for these areas will be MODERATE for today. With large amounts of snow expected from this next storm, expect this danger rating to rise as the weekend continues.
Be careful on steep shady slopes
out there today and practice safe travel techniques. Carry an Avalanche Beacon,
shovel and probe and know how to use them. If you don’t know or want to know
more then we’d like to invite you to attend a Basic Avalanche Awareness and
Field Day starting at the Carbon County Recreation Center, Price, Utah. 7 p.m.
at the Rec Center on Friday evening January 20th, with a Field day Saturday on the Skyline January 21st, 2006.
Basic Avalanche Awareness and Field Day
Carbon County Recreation Center, Price, Utah
7 p.m. at t Center (Friday), Field day Saturday on the Skyline
*The
advisory is also available via recorded message at (800) 648-7433