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 Friday, November 28, 2003 at 8:30 a.m.  This a general advisory for the weekend of November 29th and 30th. 

 

 

Mountain Weather:

A high pressure system sits over the area with some high clouds above.  Currently at our Mammoth/Cottonwood SNOTEL site, there is 19.5” of snow on the ground and the current temperature is 12.0 degrees.  The next best chance of snow is Saturday afternoon with 2”-4” possible and a 60% chance of more snow on Sunday.   Winds on Saturday should be out of the west at 15-25 mph.  For the beginning part of next week skies will give way to partly cloudy skies with highs in the 40’s and lows in the 20’s for the 8,000’ level.

 

General Conditions:

Observers in the area have reported a total snow depth of two to two and a half feet in most areas.  They also report that snowmachiners are venturing out past the main routes and into steeper terrain.   BE CAREFUL!   Watch out for terrain traps such as steep gullies and benches below steep slopes.  Just because your not on them doesn’t mean that you cannot remotely trigger them.  If you are venturing out on steeper terrain, travel safely, have one person at a time out upon the slope, have transceivers on and carry snow shovels and probes.  And practice using them.  Your partner is the your only chance of rescue in most cases, so always have a rescue plan! 

 

Avalanche Conditions:

With the possibility of some good snowfall amounts coming in this weekend associated with some moderate winds, there is potential for some wind slabs to develop on the leeward aspects.   Avalanche activity increases during or just after a storm, where the new snow is tender and does not have the time to stabilize.  With the recent colder temperatures, I expect the lower layers of the snow pack to be getting weaker, so more snow equals more weight which could equal avalanche.  

 

Public Announcements:

We will be updating this advisory for the weekend of December 6th.  We are looking to put on avalanche awareness classes this winter all over this area.  If you or any group is interested in these classes, please call us at 435.636.3363 or leave an email at mforgens@fs.fed.us.  If you are out and about today, I would really like to hear from you .You can send me an observation too!  We are also drumming up volunteers for the Manti Skyline as well.   The more eyes we have and the more educated we are, the safer we can enjoy the terrain!