Northern Mountains This is Scott in the Avalanche Center at 3 pm, Sunday, February 23, 2003. DISCUSSION NW flow & a little RH contribute to cold temps & snow showers in N&C mtns today. For tonight look for more of what we have today. As with most closed lows that provide weather for us...this next one moving our way slowing down. So for Monday, mid-morning to mid-afternoon warmer air & moisture will move into CO from the Pacific. Warmer air aloft with colder air in the lower atmosphere will provide good lift potential. Looks like a snowy pattern into mid week...at least. The forecast details: Northern mountains Sun night: Increasing clouds, light snow developing,Tr-2 possible. Winds W/10-20 G30. Lows 0-10. Monday: Showers to light snow, 2-4, 4-7 Steamboat. Winds WSW/5-15 G30. Highs 10-20. Monday night: 2-4, 4-7 Steamboat. Winds SW 15-25, Gs 40s. Lows 10-20 Tuesday: Snow showers to lite snow, Light SW winds & temps warming. SNOWPACK Very tender in the Summit County area, spreading into Eagle County where one skier was buried after being swept over a cliff in Stone Creek near Beaver Creek. No beacons or shovels in the 2 person group. Fortunately a ski tail was sticking out of the snow. His partner dug the victim out not breathing. Cleared airway & they skied away. Whew. So far 12 slides reported around Summit County, most were naturals but a couple came with control work. All NW to East aspects. Will expand the warning this afternoon to west San Juans, and into Eagle County along the I-70 corridor, Gore Range & northern Sawatch Range. 5 fairly large natural slides reported from the BC around Red Mtn Pass. Numerous slides reported from the Ophir area as well. Some starting from approaching helicopter according to observers. N mtns: Avalanche warning in place for Summit County & Eagle County areas along the I_70 corridor. Below TL, CONSIDERABLE. Near and above TL the danger is HIGH. Natural and triggered avalanches are likely on steep, snowloaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees. C Mtns: All elevations, MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE, Triggered avalanches are probable on steep, snowloaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper. S mtns: CONSIDERABLE at all elevations. Areas of HIGH are present from Red Mtn Pass area west to Telluride area. Will upgrade to a warning for the backcountry there as well. Triggered avalanches are probable to likely on a variety of aspects, especially W to N to SE. The weakest area there is the old dust layer some 2 below the surface. toepfer Central Mountains This is Scott in the Avalanche Center at 3pm, Sunday, February 23, 2003. DISCUSSION NW flow & a little RH contribute to cold temps & snow showers in N&C mtns today. For tonight look for more of what we have today. As with most closed lows that provide weather for us...this next one moving our way slowing down. So for Monday, mid-morning to mid-afternoon warmer air & moisture will move into CO from the Pacific. Warmer air aloft with colder air in the lower atmosphere will provide good lift potential. Looks like a snowy pattern into mid week...at least. The forecast details: Grand Mesa area Sun night: Increasing clouds, light snow developing,Tr-2. Winds SW/5-15. Lows 5-15. Monday: Light snow, 2-5. Winds SW/5-15. Highs12-22. Monday night: 5-9. Winds SW 5-15, Gs 20s. Lows 12-22 Tuesday: 2-4. Winds SSW 5-15. Highs 15-25 Central Mountains Sun night: Snow showers, T-2 possible. Winds WSW/10-20 G30. Lows 5-15. Monday: Light snow, 2-4, West Elks 4-7. Winds SW/10-20 G30 over ridgetops. Highs 12-22. Monday Night: 2-4, West Elks 4-7. Winds SW 15-25, Gs 40s. Lows 15-25 Tuesday: Snow, 2-4. Winds SW 5-15, Gs 20s. Highs 15-25 SNOWPACK 5 fairly large natural slides reported from the BC around Red Mtn Pass. Numerous slides reported from the Ophir area as well. Some starting from approaching helicopter according to observers. Very tender in the Summit County area, spreading into Eagle County where one skier was buried after being swept over a cliff. No beacons or shovels in the 2 person group. Fortunately a ski tail was sticking out of the snow. His partner dug the victim out not breathing. Cleared airway & they skied away. Whew. So far 12 slides reported around Summit County, most were naturals but a couple came with control work. All NW to East aspects. Will expand the warning this afternoon to west San Juans, and into Eagle County along the I-70 corridor including the Gore Range & northern Sawatch Range. N mtns: Avalanche warning in place for Summit County & Eagle County areas along the I_70 corridor. Below TL, CONSIDERABLE. Near and above TL the danger is HIGH. Natural and triggered avalanches are likely on steep, snowloaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees. C Mtns: All elevations, MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE, Triggered avalanches are probable on steep, snowloaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper. S mtns: CONSIDERABLE at all elevations. Areas of HIGH are present from Red Mtn Pass area west to Telluride area. Will upgrade to a warning for the backcountry there as well. Triggered avalanches are probable to likely on a variety of aspects, especially W to N to SE. The weakest area there is the old dust layer some 2 below the surface. toepfer Southern Mountains This is Scott in the Avalanche Center at 2:15 pm, Sunday, February 23, 2003. DISCUSSION NW flow & a little RH contribute to cold temps & snow showers in N&C mtns today. For tonight look for more of what we have today. As with most closed lows that provide weather for us...this next one moving our way slowing down. So for Monday, mid-morning to mid-afternoon warmer air & moisture will move into CO from the Pacific. Warmer air aloft with colder air in the lower atmosphere will provide good lift potential. Looks like a snowy pattern into mid week...at least. The forecast details: West San Juans Sun night: Increasing clouds, showers developing, T-2 possible by morn. Winds SW/10-20 G30. Lows 5-15. Monday: Light snow, 4-7 possible. Winds SW/10-20 G30. Highs 15-25. Monday night: 5-9. Winds SW 10-20. Lows 15-25 Tuesday: 1-3. Winds SSW 10-20, Gs 30s. Highs 18-28 Wolf Creek Pass Area Sun night: Increasing clouds, showers developing by morn. Winds SW/ 5-15, Gs 20s. Lows5-15. Monday: Light-moderate snow,4-7 possible. Winds SW/5-15 Gs 30s. Highs 12-22. Monday night: 5-9. Winds SW 10-20, Lows 11-20 Tuesday: 1-3. Winds SSW 10-20, Highs 18-28. SNOWPACK 5 fairly large natural slides reported from the BC around Red Mtn Pass. Numerous slides reported from the Ophir area as well. Some starting from approaching helicopter according to observers. Most suspect slopes appear to be N-E aspects. Some running slides are triggering other slides. Will expand WARNING to include the Ophir/Telluride eastward to Red Mountain Pass backcountry. Very tender in the Summit County area up north as well, spreading into Eagle County where one skier was buried after being swept over a cliff. No beacons or shovels in the 2 person group. Fortunately a ski tail was sticking out of the snow. His partner dug the victim out not breathing. Cleared airway & they skied away. Whew. So far 12 slides reported around Summit County, most were naturals but a couple came with control work. All NW to East aspects. Will expand the warning this afternoon to Eagle County along the I-70 corridor including the Gore Range & Northern Sawatch Range. N mtns: Avalanche warning in place for Summit County & Eagle County areas along the I_70 corridor. Below TL, CONSIDERABLE. Near and above TL the danger is HIGH. Natural and triggered avalanches are likely on steep, snowloaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees. C Mtns: All elevations, MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE, Triggered avalanches are probable on steep, snowloaded slopes 35 degrees and steeper. S mtns: CONSIDERABLE at all elevations. Areas of HIGH are present from Red Mtn Pass area west to Telluride/Ophir area. Will upgrade to a warning for the backcountry there as well. Triggered avalanches are probable to likely on a variety of aspects, especially W to N to SE. The weakest area there is the old dust layer some 2 below the surface. toepfer