Northern Mountains

This is Nick in the Avalanche Center at 4:30 pm, Friday, February 21,
2003.
DISCUSSION
The upper level flow over CO will be our of the NW through the
weekend. This is tapping into moisture from the Pacific NW and that
will provide mountain snow into Sunday. This will favor the N&C mtns
for snow amounts and moderate-strong winds at the higher elevations.
The best chance for snow in the S mtns should come Saturday afternoon
as another ripple in the flow moves over us and pulls the moisture
farther south. Look for lingering light snow and showers in the N&C
mtns on Sunday. The forecast details:
Friday night: Light snow, 3-5 additional. Winds NW/15-25 G40s, blowing
snow. Lows 2-12.
Saturday: Light-moderate snow, 3-6. Winds WNW/15-25 G40s, blowing
snow. Highs 8-18.
Sat night: Light-mod snow, 3-6 possible. Winds NW/10-20 G30s. Lows
2-12.
Sunday: Cloudy, light snow, 2-4. Winds W/10-20 G30. Highs 6-16.
SNOWPACK
Avalanches reported today include the E side of Bald Mtn above
timberline, just E of Breckenridge. One was large and likely triggered
by a cornice fall. It ran to the ground. The other was easily ski cut
and ran some 500 vertical feet. These were on NE-SE aspects. Six
slides were reported in the backcountry S of Monarch Pass, above TL on
NE-E aspects. Five were natural releases, one was triggered by a
cornice fall as a skier passed near the cornice. Copper Mtn and
Steamboat reported some 6-8 of snow today, 1" at Winter Park. Strong
winds are causing blowing snow and drifting on high elevation slopes
facing NE-SE, so fresh slabs are building in starting zones near and
above TL in the N mtns. Some natural releases are possible and
triggered releases probable there. Only light snow was reported from
the C mtns and a few flurries in the S mtns.
The backcountry avalanche danger ...
N mtns: Well below TL, MODERATE. Triggered avalanches are possible.
Near and above TL the danger is CONSIDERABLE. Triggered avalanches are
probable on steep, snowloaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper.
The exception is in the Elkhead Mtns and Park Range near Steamboat
where there are pockets of HIGH danger, especially on NE-SE aspects
where there has been steady strong winds, and heavier snow has fallen
on lighter density snow of this morning. There is a better chance for
natural avalanche activity in the Steamboat zone.
Logan

Central Mountains

This is Nick in the Avalanche Center at 4:30 pm, Friday, February 21,
2003.
DISCUSSION
The upper level flow over CO will be our of the NW through the
weekend. This is tapping into moisture from the Pacific NW and that
will provide mountain snow into Sunday. This will favor the N&C mtns
for snow amounts and moderate-strong winds at the higher elevations.
The best chance for snow in the S mtns should come Saturday afternoon
as another ripple in the flow moves over us and pulls the moisture
farther south. Look for lingering light snow and showers in the N&C
mtns on Sunday. The forecast details:
Friday night: Showers to light snow, 2-4 additional. Winds NW/10-20
G30. Lows 4-14.
Saturday: Light-moderate snow, 3-6 possible. Winds WNW/10-20 G40s,
blowing snow. Highs 10-20.
Sat night: Light snow, 3-5 possible. Winds NW/10-20 G30. Lows 0-10.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, showers, T-2. Winds W/10-20 G30. Highs 8-18.
SNOWPACK
Slides reported today occurred on the E side of Bald Mtn above
timberline, just E of Breckenridge. One was large and likely triggered
by a cornice fall. It ran to the ground. The other was easily ski cut
and ran some 500 vertical feet. These were on NE-SE aspects. Five
natural avalanches were reported from S of Monarch Pass, and one was
triggered by a cornice fall triggered by a skier passing near it.
These were above TL on NE-E aspects. Copper Mtn and Steamboat reported
some 6-8 of snow today. Winter Park reported 1" of new snow. Strong
winds are causing blowing snow and drifting on high elevation slopes
facing NE-SE, so fresh slabs are building in starting zones near and
above TL in the N mtns. Some natural releases are possible and
triggered releases probable there. Only light snow was reported from
the C mtns and a few flurries in the S mtns.
The backcountry avalanche danger ...
C Mtns: Well below TL, MODERATE. Triggered avalanches are possible.
Near and above TL the danger is rated CONSIDERABLE due to very weak
snowpack conditions. Triggered avalanches are probable on steep,
snowloaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper.
Logan

Southern Mountains

This is Nick in the Avalanche Center at 4:30 pm, Friday, February 21,
2003.
DISCUSSION
The upper level flow over CO will be our of the NW through the
weekend. This is tapping into moisture from the Pacific NW and that
will provide mountain snow into Sunday. This will favor the N&C mtns
for snow amounts and moderate-strong winds at the higher elevations.
The best chance for snow in the S mtns should come Saturday afternoon
as another ripple in the flow moves over us and pulls the moisture
farther south. Look for lingering light snow and showers in the N&C
mtns on Sunday. The forecast details:
Friday night: Partly cloudy. Winds NNW backing WNW/10-15 G30s higher
elevations. Lows 5-15.
Saturday: Turning cloudy, scattered showers, T-2 favoring W San Juans.
Winds W/10-20 G30. Highs 10-20.
Sat night: Mostly cloudy, snow showers, T-2 possible. Winds NW/10-15
G20s. Lows 2-12.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Winds W/5-15 G20. Highs 8-18.
SNOWPACK
Slides reported today occurred on the E side of Bald Mtn above
timberline, just E of Breckenridge. One was large and likely triggered
by a cornice fall. It ran to the ground. The other was easily ski cut
and ran some 500 vertical feet. These were on NE-SE aspects. There
were six slides reported from just S of Monarch Pass. Five of these
were natural releases and one was triggered by a cornice fall triggred
by a skier passing nearby. Copper Mtn and Steamboat reported some 6-8
of snow today. Strong winds are causing blowing snow and drifting on
high elevation slopes facing NE-SE. Fresh slabs are building in
starting zones near and above TL in the N mtns. Some natural releases
are possible and triggered releases probable there. Only light snow
was reported from the C mtns and a few flurries in the S mtns with
1.5" at the top of Red Mtn Pass by late this afternoon.
The backcountry avalanche danger ...
S mtns: CONSIDERABLE at all elevations. Triggered avalanches are
probable, on a variety of aspects, especially W to N to SE. Yesterday
our observer on Red Mtn Pass ski cut 5 different test slopes and all
failed easily. Two small slopes were triggered from the flat area
below. There was also widespread collapsing on all aspects.
Logan