Avalanche forecast

Skyline

Utah Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

INCREASING AVALANCHE DANGER THIS WEEK!!

For today, the avalanche danger remains MODERATE on the Manti Skyline. Small human triggered slab avalanches are possible. The most likely place to trigger one is on steep slopes above about 8500 feet in elevation on the north half of the compass.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1

    It is very obvious how things are playing out. The weak facets that formed in January are in our face. You punch through into them while riding machines and skiing. You are "sandboxing" in them as you break through while trailbreaking on skis. The snowpack is collapsing and "whoomping" in many areas. Cracks in the snow surface are visible. We've seen a number of small natural avalanches from the last small storm that all broke into the facets. Things will only get worse with additional snow this week.

    Check out these two backcountry observations that document what we're seeing:

Recent Activity

A small natural slab avalanche was found on Sunday in the upper Fairview Lakes zone. It looks like it released near the end of the last storm early Thursday. It broke into underlying, weak faceted snow that formed in January. This is going to be the story for some time to come.

Photo: Chris Magerl

Snow and Weather

General Conditions: Temperatures on Sunday made it into the low to mid 30s and cooled into the mid 20s overnight. Wind from the southwest has been generally light. The new snow from last week was welcome, there just wasn't quite enough. You'll find lots of variable crusts and unsupportable areas just under the new snow making for some funky riding conditions.

Mountain Weather: We'll have high clouds again today with temperatures into the low 30s again. Wind from the southwest will be light to start and increase to moderate speeds as the day progresses. A large low pressure trough will churn through Utah over the next four days or so. This will bring periods of snow and should stack up to a foot of snow or perhaps a bit more by the time it's all said and done.

Additional Info

SKYLINE AVALANCHES & OBSERVATIONS

CAMERAS & WEATHER STATIONS

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This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

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