Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Public Forecast of Weather and Backcountry Avalanche Conditions

This is Denny in the Avalanche Center at 7:00 am, Thursday, March 14,
2002.

DISCUSSION

New snow amounts reported early this morning were: Loveland Pass  5",
Copper Mountain  9", Breckenridge  8", Winter Park  9", Vail  4.5",
MCLure Pass 7", Aspen 6", Monarch 4",  Silverton ½", Telluride 5".
The storm system will move east today with lingering light snow in the
N mtns. We will see snow decrease across the state from W to E this
morning. Winds will be shifting from the NW to W. Tonight, the next
storm will move into SW Colorado fueling more snow to the S, C and N
mtns. On Friday, weak high pressure will be over us so look for things
to dry out a bit by the afternoon. For the weekend our unsettled
weather pattern continues with a moist southwest low in the picture.
The forecast details:

Northern Mountains

Thursday: Cloudy,  Snow 2-4" additional . Winds NW/10-20 G30s. Highs 5
to 15.

Thursday night: Cloudy.  Snow showers. Winds NW-W/10-20. Lows -5 to
+5.

Friday:  Cloudy. Scattered snow showers, higher elevations. Winds
W/10-20 G30s. Highs 11-21.  Lows 0 to +10. Saturday:  Partly cloudy,
Isolated snow showers possible early. Winds SW/5-15. Highs 17-27.

Central Mountains

Thursday: Cloudy,  Snow 1-3" additional . Winds NW/10-20 G30s. Highs 5
to 15.

Thursday night: Cloudy.  Snow showers. Winds NW-W/10-20. Lows -5 to
+5.

Friday:  Cloudy. Scattered snow showers, higher elevations. Winds
W-SW/10-20 G30s. Highs 11-21.  Lows 0-10. Saturday:  Partly cloudy,
Isolated snow showers possible early. Winds SW/5-15. Highs 17-27.

Southern Mountains

Thursday: Cloudy,  Snow showers 1-3" additional on the North sides .
Winds NW/10-20 G30s. Highs 5 to 15.

Thursday night: Cloudy.  Snow showers. Winds NW-W/10-20. Lows -5 to
+5.

Friday: Mostly cloudy. Scattered snow showers. Winds W-SW/10-20 G30s.
Highs 11-21.  Lows 0 to +10. Saturday:  Partly cloudy,  Isolated snow
showers possible early. Winds SW/5-15. Highs 17-27.

SNOWPACK

New snow and blowing snow last night have increased the avalanche
danger in most areas.  Reports indicate that the new snow came in wet
and  it seems to have bonded well with the old snow. That is the good
news, the bad news is the wind has transported much of this snow into
starting zones. Visibility is poor at this time and avalanche
mitigation teams are moving out to begin their work.

The backcountry avalanche danger has increased to:

N & C mtns: overall CONSIDERABLE. Triggered releases by backcountry
travelers are possible on W-N-E aspects and steeper at all elevations.
The most suspect are recently wind-loaded slopes and gullies 35
degrees and steeper. Unstable slabs are probable on steep terrain.
Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are
likely.

The West San Juans: MODERATE danger on Northerly aspects with pockets
of CONSIDERABLE, East South and SW aspects are LOW-MOD but these all
go to a MODERATE danger for the afternoon with wet conditions found
there.

In the East San Juans: MODERATE danger on N-E aspects at all
elevations. LOW on all other aspects and elevations.

Hogan