Colorado Avalanche Information Center -- Boulder

Public Forecast of Mountain Weather and Backcountry Avalanche
Conditions

This is Scott at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center with
current information on mountain weather, snow and avalanche conditions
recorded at 7:30 am, Sunday, February 4, 2001.

DISCUSSION

Still enough moisture & orographics to produce snow along the
Divide/Front/Gore /&10 Mile Ranges in the N mtns this morning & as far
S as the Aspen areas.  The jet has begun drifting eastward this
morning, but less wind speed will be short lived as next system is
coming in for this afternoon.  Expecting strong winds along & east of
the Divide by this afternoon in the N&C mtns, lesser extent in the San
Juans. With NW wind flow pattern N&C mtns will be in unsettled weather
through this forecast period.  Looks like a stronger shot of snow
possible for Monday Night.

WEATHER

N Mtns

Sunday:  2-4".  Winds W 15-25, Gs 40-50s.  Highs 18-25

Sunday Night: Snow, 3-5" Stmbt, 2-4" to the S.  Winds W 20-30. Gs
50s.  Lows 13-19

Monday:  Cloudy, 2-4".  Winds W 20-30, G 60s.  Highs 18-25

Monday Night:  S, could be heavy at times.  Winds W & decrease
slightly.  Lows 13-18

C Mtns

Sunday:  Tr-2".  Winds NW10-20, Gs 30s.  Highs 21-28

Sunday Night:  1-3".  Winds NW 10-20, G 30s.  Lows 15-23

Monday:  Cloudy, 2-4".  Winds WNW 15-25, Gs 40s.  Highs 19-26

Monday Night:  Snow.  Winds W 15-25, Gs 40s.  Lows 15-21

S Mtns

Sunday:  Partly to mostly cloudy.  Winds NW10-20, Gs 30s.  Highs 22-31

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy.  Winds NW10-20, Gs 30s.  Lows 13-20.

Monday:  Mostly cloudy S side, cloudy N side, with 1-3".  Winds W
15-25, G30s.  Highs 18-25

Monday Night:  Mostly cloudy S side, Snow N side.  Winds WNW 10-20, Gs
30s.  Lows 15-20

SNOWPACK

Good burst of snow in N mtns yesterday, Keystone 12", Copper 11",
Winter Park 7", Vail 4.5", Ashcroft 4", Beaver Creek 3", Aspen
Highlands 2.5" & a trace at both Monarch & Red Mtn Pass.  I have some
concerns with the new snow & wind from yesterdays storm.  I would
suspect there are pockets of HIGH continuing near & above TL in N
mtns.  There is a fairly wide range of snowfall amounts so difficult
to decide on a possible avalanche warning, but it is a concern here.
Heavier snowfall appears to be confined to Summit County, so a good
chance I will issue a warning for that area this morning. Observers
reporting cracking with good propagation in the new snow, & collapse
deeper into the pack.  There appears to be poor bonding between the
old & new snow with Surface Hoar & cold low density snow as the
potential weak layer.  A late report this morning of 3 people caught
in a slide on Red Mtn Pass, one buried with a hand sticking out of the
snow, dense debris, tough getting the buried person dug out. Today's
backcountry danger ratings:

N mtns: MODERATE below Treeline, but CONSIDERABLE to pockets of HIGH
near and above TL due to blowing snow and the potential for triggered
releases of 2-4ft deep

C mtns:  Moderate below Treeline.  Pockets of CONSIDERABLE on N-SE
aspects near & above, MOD elsewhere.

East San Juans:  MODERATE overall.

West San Juans: Overall MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE on W-N-E
aspects near and above treeline.        toepfer