This is Knox at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center with current
information on mountain weather, snow and avalanche conditions
recorded at 7:10 am, Tuesday, April 3, 2001

DISCUSSION  

This morning a system over Oregon is bringing some moisture and clouds
to the Colorado mtns. It may be enough for some afternoon snow showers
especially in the N mtns, while the C&S mtns stay mostly sunny and
springlike. On Wednesday the system will be over CA, still too far
west to have an impact on Colorado, other than continued SW flow and
warm temperatures. By Thursday we'll have to watch for increasing
moisture into SW Colorado. Overall, it will be a week of spring
temperatures, with the high-elevation snowpack remaining cool but with
freeze-thaw conditions at lower elevations and afternoon wet-snow
avalanches. The forecast details:

N mtns

Tuesday: Variable clouds, chance for afternoon showers. Winds
SW/10-20, G30s above TL. Highs 32-42. Lows 24-32.

Wednesday:  Partly cloudy, chance for afternoon showers. Winds
SW/10-20, G30s above TL. Highs 35-45. Lows 24-32.

Thursday: Same as Wednesday.

C mtns

Tuesday: Mostly clear to partly cloudy, but a chance for isolated
showers. Winds SW/10-20, G30s above TL. Highs 40-50. Lows 24-34.

Wednesday:  Partly cloudy, chance for afternoon showers. Winds
SW/10-20, G30s above TL. Highs 40-50. Lows 24-34.

Thursday: Increasing clouds and better chance for showers.

S mtns

Tuesday: Mostly clear to partly cloudy, but a chance for isolated
showers. Winds SW/10-20, G30s above TL. Highs 40-50. Lows 24-34.

Wednesday:  Partly cloudy, chance of showers. Winds SW/10-20, G30s
above TL. Highs 40-50. Lows 24-34.

Thursday: Increasing clouds and better chance for showers.

SNOWPACK

The only slides reported yesterday were two wet slabs in 10-Mile
Canyon in Summit County. Blowing snow has ended at high elevations, so
we are seeing a diminished threat of slab releases above TL. Triggered
avalanches are still possible and even a few natural releases could
occur but will not be widespread. A larger threat is from wet
releases, which are likely this afternoon near and below TL. Normal
cautions should be used in the backcountry.

The backcountry danger:

N&C mtns: MODERATE overall, with chance of triggered, dry slabs at
high elevation, and wet releases at low elevations.

W San Juans: Generally MODERATE with good chance for wet releases in
the afternoon. N aspects are rated LOW with pockets of MODERATE.

E San Juans: LOW overall, but areas of MODERATE for wet releases in
the afternoon.

Williams