Colorado Avalanche Information Center Public Forecast of Weather and Backcountry Avalanche Conditions This is Knox at the CAIC with current information on mountain weather, snow, and avalanche conditions recorded at 6:30 am, Wednesday, February 23, 2000. DISCUSSION A weather system brought moderate snowfall overnight, with these 24-hr new snow amounts: Winter Park 10-1/2", Berthoud Pass 12, A Basin 6, Breckenridge 5-1/2, Copper 5, Vail 7, Aspen Highlands 2, Ashcroft 3, Wolf Creek 2. This morning in the N mtns some low clouds are hugging the mountains and some light snow is still falling, but skies for most of the mountains are clear to partly cloudy, because we are between weather systems. The next system is now over California and will be over Arizona on Thursday morning. This will bring deep moisture on SW flow into the Colorado mountains, starting tonight for the San Juans. Thursday will bring snowfall especially to the S mtns, and a cold front will move through the mountains Thursday afternoon and bring light snow to the C&N mtns. The forecast details: WEATHER N Mtns Wednesday: Partly cloudy, a few lingering showers along Continental Divide this morning. Winds NW backing to SW/5-15. Highs 25-30. Cloudy tonight with lows 15-20. Thursday: Cloudy, light snow in afternoon with the cold front, 1-3" possible. Winds SW-W/10-20. Highs 21-26. Lows 2-7. C Mtns Wednesday: Mostly clear morning, cloudy afternoon. Winds SW/10-20. Highs 24-32. Weds night: Cloudy with light snow showers. Winds SW/15-25. Lows 15-20. Thursday: Cloudy, light snow, esp in Crested Butte and Grand Mesa zones, 2-5" possible. Winds SW/20-30. Highs 21-26. Lows 5-10. S Mtns Wednesday: Mostly clear morning, cloudy afternoon. Winds SW/15-20. Highs 24-32. Weds night: Cloudy, light snow after midnight, 1-3". Winds SW/20-30. Lows 15-20. Thursday: Cloudy, snow, 3-7" possible. Winds SW/20-30. Highs 21-26. Lows 5-10. SNOWPACK There has been 6-12 inches of new snow in the N mtns and it has bonded poorly to the thin crust underneath. Therefore there is lots of instability in the new snow layer, and shallow triggered releases are likely today in the N mtns. There was little additional new snow in the C&S mtns, so surface instability will be minimal, though shallow releases on the crust are possible. However, deep slab instability remains a problem in the C&S mtns. We are still getting reports of 1-2 deep slabs per day from the C&S mtns. There have been 3 deep releases the last 3 days around Wolf Creek, and 1 near Aspen. Here are the backcountry danger ratings: N Mtns: overall MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE especially near and above TL on slopes 35 degrees or steeper. Shallow triggered releases in the new snow layer are likely. C&S Mtns: overall MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE especially near and above TL on slopes 35 degrees or steeper. Triggered releases remain possible to probable. There is deep slab potential in E San Juans on NW-E aspects. Don't let your guard down. Triggered releases by backcountry travelers remain possible to probable, especially on the steeper and wind-drifted areas. Backcountry travelers should continue to use extra caution on slopes and gullies 35 degrees and steeper, especially on high elevation, wind-drifted terrain. Williams As always, the snow conditions we've 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.