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 Sunday, January 11^th, 2004 at 7:30 a.m.

General Conditions:

The fog has dissipated in most areas, and the valleys should see a slow warming trend. Up on the Skyline today it is going to be another balmy day. Yesterdays high temperatures reached into the lower 50’s for the third day in a row. Currently it is 12F at the Mammoth/Cottonwood stake, with 32.3” of snow on the ground.

Mountain Weather:

The high-pressure system will remain over the forecast area into midweek.

Today: Mostly sunny. Highs at 8,000’ will be in the lower 40’s.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows at 8,000’ will be around 20.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs at 8,000’ will be in the mid 40’s.

Avalanche Conditions:

The warm weather has continued up on the Plateau, yesterday was the third day that temperatures reached into the 50’s. This warming trend is both good and bad. The good news is that the snow pack is going through a settlement period, which is good for the bonding of the snow layers. The bad news is this. Crusts are developing on all aspects and on steep southerly aspects, point releases are occurring, a product of rapid rewarming. These point releases, also known as snowrollers, pinwheels or cinnamon rolls usually start from rocky outcroppings where the sun warms the rock, and are seen as a sign of instability. The warm temperatures could be making the cornices sensitive again, and although most of them have cleaved during and just after the recent storms, snow creep at the surface might create an overhang on cornices, and an unstable one at that. It is just a good rule of thumb to stay away from the edge of cornices. This all being said, I am going to rate the avalanche hazard for today at MODERATE on wind loaded slopes greater than 35 degrees. The rest of the areas I am going to rate as LOW.

Remember that a MODERATE rating still means that human triggered avalanches are possible and still to use extra caution when riding in avalanche terrain.

Public Announcements:

We have some great classes coming your way in January! And we just set one up in Ephraim in February! 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 mforgensi@fs.fed.us.