Colorado Avalanche Information Center Bulletin

This is Denny in the Avalanche Center at 7:00 am, Friday, January 18,
2002.

DISCUSSION

Early reports of new snow are Vail 1", Winter Park  1.5", Breckenridge
2", Copper Mtn 2".  A windy, cold day with light to moderate snow is
in store for the N and C mtns. as a stronger short wave moves over
that region. A second system will be on the heels of the first
bringing increased winds tonight for all mtn areas. Clearing late
tonight and Saturday but brisk winds will cause blowing and drifting
snow at higher elevations.  Sunday and Monday, another weak system
will bring snow showers and windy conditions for the Holiday period.
The forecast details:

Northern Mountains

Friday:  Cloudy, snow , 2-4". Winds NW/10-20, G30s abv TL. Highs
12-22. Friday night, Mostly cloudy, Evening snow showers, then
clearing,  Lows -5 to +5.

Saturday: Mostly sunny early, Increasing clouds late, Winds W/30-40
G60. Highs 7-17, Lows 0 to 10.

Sunday: Mostly Cloudy, snow showers, NW/10-20. Highs 15-25. Lows -5 to
+5.

Central  Mountains

Friday:  Cloudy, snow , 2-4". Winds NW/10-20, G30s abv TL. Highs
12-22. Friday night, Mostly cloudy, Evening snow showers, then
clearing,  Lows -5 to +5.

Saturday: Mostly sunny early, Increasing clouds late, Winds W/30-40
G60. Highs 7-17, Lows 0 to 10.

Sunday: Mostly Cloudy, snow showers, NW/10-20. Highs 15-25. Lows -5 to
+5.

Southern Mountains

Friday:  Cloudy, snow , 1-3", favoring the West San Juans.  Winds
NW/10-20, G30s abv TL. Highs 12-22. Friday night, Mostly cloudy,
Evening snow showers, then clearing,  Lows -5 to +5.

Saturday: Mostly sunny early, Increasing clouds late, Winds W/30-40
G60. Highs 7-17, Lows 0 to 10.

Sunday: Mostly Cloudy, snow showers possible, NW/10-20. Highs 15-25.
Lows -5 to +5.

SNOWPACK

Wind will be the main concern in the next 24 hrs. The transport of the
new snow will build slabs on an already tender snowpack. Blowing snow
and high winds will increase the hazard today and tomorrow in all mtn
areas.

Watch for changing conditions in your area.

The backcountry avalanche danger: 

N mtns: MODERATE, with pockets of CONSIDERABLE, near & above treeline
on NW-E-SE aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Below treeline, LOW.

C mtns, W San Juans and E San Juans: MODERATE on N-S aspects near &
above treeline. Well below treeline, The danger is rated LOW.   Below
TL, a very weak snow cover made up largely of faceted grains. .

Hogan