Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Public Forecast of Weather and Backcountry Avalanche Conditions

This is Nick at the CAIC with current information on mountain weather,
snow, and avalanche conditions recorded at 6:35 am, Wednesday, April
7, 1999.

(Denver) This hotline is maintained by the US Forest Service. For
Forest info, call 303-275-5350.

(Ft. Collins) This message is sponsored by the MOUNTAIN SHOP, at 632
S. Mason, in mid-town Ft. Collins. (Colo Springs) This message is
sponsored by the MOUNTAIN CHALET, located at 226 N. Tejon in CO
Springs.

(Summit Co.) This message is sponsored by the Summit County Rescue
Group.

(Durango) This message is sponsored by PINE NEEDLE MOUNTAINEERING,
located in the Main

Note: Due to telephone company line problems at the Server this
morning...CAIC was without e-mail/Internet communication to the
outside world. This has now been resolved...at least temporarily.
Sorry for any inconvenience a late forecast may have caused.

SYNOPSIS

The closed low pressure system we have been watching on the west coast
is centered over L.A. this morning. This is projected to turn inland
today and track over CO tonight and bring some lite-moderate snow to
most mountain sites. Significant atmospheric instability could produce
periods of heavier snow and locally higher snowfall amounts, along
with the potential for lightning. On Thursday the low will exit
northeastern CO but wrap-around moisture could still fuel snow
showers. By Thursday night/Friday the next trough is over the Great
Basin. We will see some clearing and the return of strong SW winds ...
then another chance for snow on Friday afternoon. We will fine tune
the details as that storm gets closer. The forecast details:

WEATHER

Wednesday: All mtns ... mostly clear morning, increasing clouds by
afternoon, and a chance for showers developing late afternoon,
especially in the S Mtns. Winds N Mtns SSW/10-20 G30s; C&S Mtns
SSW/15-25 G50 over some high ridges. Temperature highs N Mtns 25-35;
C&S Mtns 30-40 degrees.

Wed nite: N&C mtns ... cloudy with showers to lite snow, 2-5". S Mtns
obscured w/lite-moderate snow, 3-7" possible. Look for periods of
locally heavy snowfall possible along with chance for lightning. Winds
SW veering W by morning ... N Mtns 15-25 G40; C&S Mtns 20-30 G50s.
Overnight lows 8-18.

Thursday: All mtns ... partly-mostly cloudy, chance for lingering snow
showers, T-1". Winds W-SW/10-20 G30s. Highs 18-28 but warmer in the
valleys.

SNOWPACK

Were looking for warm temperatures and sunshine again today so expect
another chance for loose snow slides, especially out of warmer rock
outcrops areas on sunny aspects. Triggered soft slab releases are also
possible, especially on slopes 35 degrees or steeper in lee areas from
recent snow and windloading at the high elevations. Yesterday morning
on St Marys Glacier a skier had a close call when he triggered a soft
slab avalanche that took him on a pretty rough ride. Totally buried,
he was quickly rescued by two alert and shovel-equipped snowboarders
that sped to his last seen area. They found his glasses on the surface
and located his head 1-foot below the snow. What equipment he was able
to recover was shattered. Also yesterday, a Snowmass patroller
observed two skiers trigger a slide and take a ride on the NW aspect
of Garrett Pk nr Aspen. One was buried with only his face showing. I
will hold the backcountry avalanche danger in the S Mtns at MODERATE.
In the N&C Mtns the danger is MODERATE near and above timberline for
triggered releases, the most suspect areas are on NW-E aspects, 35
degrees or steeper. Well below treeline the danger is generally LOW.
Continue to use caution in the backcountry.

We will update this forecast on Thursday morning.

Logan

As always, the snow conditions weve reported are based on observations
and field data. Use this information for guidance only. You may find
different conditions in the backcountry and should travel accordingly.