US Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest

Good afternoon, 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 Thursday afternoon, February 22nd, 2007 at 3:45 p.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:

            The Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center is posting a Special Avalanche Warning for this weekend starting tomorrow, Friday February 23rd through Sunday February 25th.  

 

This weekend will be very hazardous to backcountry users on the Manti-Skyline.  The annual Utah State Snowmobile ride will bring more visitors to the area that will be traveling in avalanche terrain.  The combination of poor snow stability & the forecasted heavy snow and strong winds for Friday/Friday night will set the forecast area up for another large avalanche cycle.  Last weekends storm had numerous natural & human triggered avalanches fail, and some very close calls.  The most recent report was of two young snowboarders who had a cornice fail on them at the "Fairview Lakes Viewpoint".  This is the same location where two snowboarders lost their lives 6 years ago.  One was completely buried with only his hand out. 

 

Tomorrow is predicted to bring the second decent storm in as many weeks.  Powder, high visitation & clearing skies on Saturday will push people farther into the back country and perhaps into unfamiliar terrain in search of fresh tracks.  Slopes that did not fail during last weekends storm will be tested again, this time resulting in larger, more dangerous avalanches.  Small seemingly benign avalanche paths could fail.  With great riding conditions will make it difficult to stay away from high-marking slopes...do not get lured into Powder Fever!

 

Some ways to reduce your risk in being caught in an avalanche is to follow these Travel Protocols: 

1.       Those who do not know the terrain intimately should avoid avalanche terrain and keep to meadows and low angled terrain.  

2.       Steer clear from the run-out zones of avalanche paths.  High benches in alpine bowls could be over-run by large avalanches. 

3.       Do not approach cornices.   Cornices are very tender during or just after a recent storm.  They take up over 24 hours to gain strength. 

4.       Always travel one at a time in avalanche terrain. 

5.       Always carry  your beacons, probes and shovels at a minimum. 

 

Mountain Weather: 

This Afternoon: Mostly cloudy. Snow in the afternoon. Probability of measurable precipitation 20 percent. South wind 46 mph. High 49.
Tonight: Snow. Probability of measurable precipitation 60 percent. South wind 46 mph. Low 21.
Friday: Snow. Snow accumulation 8 inches. Probability of measurable precipitation 100 percent. West wind 18 mph. High 27.
Friday Night: Snow showers. Snow accumulation 2 inches. Probability of measurable precipitation 60 percent. Northwest wind 21 mph. Low 12.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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’):

30”

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Seeley Creek SNOTEL (10,000’):

20”

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Skyline Wind Site (SH 31):

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Back up and running again. 

Miller Flat Trailhead: 

38””

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

             The BOTTOM LINE for the rest of the day will be an AVALANCHE DANGER of CONSIDERABLE on steep slopes greater than 35 degrees on N-NE-E-SE aspects.  If we receive the snow and wind forecasted for Friday, expect the avalanche danger to rise in accordance to HIGH.