Northern Mountains This is Knox in the Avalanche Center at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, March 5, 2003. DISCUSSION Snowfall has tapered off to showers in all mtns, and theres enough low moisture to keep these going into tonight. So far, the only strong winds have been in the Front Range and 10 Mile Range, with gusts to 45 above TL. Tonight winds become more westerly, and speeds will increase as the jet will be over Wyoming. On Thursday, temperatures will warm, winds will remain moderately strong, and there will be enough moisture to sustain snowshowers much of the day in the N mtns (especially around Steamboat), scattered showers in the C mtns, and none in the S mtns. This pattern will continue into Friday morning, followed by a general drying trend and mild afternoon temperatures. The forecast details: Northern Mountains Wednesday aftn & night: Mostly cloudy, snow showers, 1-2 (but 2-3 at Steamboat). Winds W/15-25 G50 abv TL. Lows 2-12. Thursday: Mostly cloudy, snow showers, 1-3 (2-4 possible at Steamboat). Winds W/15-25 G50 abv TL. Highs 15-25. Lows 8-18. Friday: Partly cloudy, morning snow showers, 1-2. Winds WSW/10-20 G40. Highs 20s. SNOWPACK Currently BC avalanche warnings are effect for the N mtns (north of a line from Denver to Hoosier Pass to Glenwood) and for the W San Juans. I will keep these in effect at least through midday Thursday. I expect winds to increase tonight in the N&C mtns, which will increase blowing snow, while the S mtns may be spared high winds and significant blowing snow. Avalanches reported as of 3 pm today are ... 6 explosive-controlled on Loveland Pass and at Ike Tunnel, and 5 naturals ... many shallow exp-controlled at Breckenridge ... 1 ski-triggered near Francies Cabin ... 6 exp-controlled (to the ground) on Grand Mesa ... 12 exp-controlled on Red Mtn Pass ... and 2 exp-controlled at Telluride. Most released the new snow only. Visibility in the Elkhead Mtns and Park Range has been poor, as it is at high elevations of the Front Range, so we do not have very reliable reports on BC activity. The backcountry avalanche danger: N mtns: An overall HIGH danger, and an Avalanche Warning is in effect. Natural and triggered releases are likely. C mtns: Near and above TL, CONSIDERABLE but areas of HIGH on all slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Well below TL, MODERATE but areas of CONSIDERABLE on all aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Natural and triggered releases are probable. W San Juans: An overall HIGH danger, and an Avalanche Warning is in effect. Triggered releases are likely. E San Juans around Wolf Creek: Near and above TL, CONSIDERABLE. Well below TL, MODERATE but areas of CONSIDERABLE on all aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Williams Central Mountains This is Knox in the Avalanche Center at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, March 5, 2003. DISCUSSION Snowfall has tapered off to showers in all mtns, and theres enough low moisture to keep these going into tonight. So far, the only strong winds have been in the Front Range and 10 Mile Range, with gusts to 45 above TL. Tonight winds become more westerly, and speeds will increase as the jet will be over Wyoming. On Thursday, temperatures will warm, winds will remain moderately strong, and there will be enough moisture to sustain snowshowers much of the day in the N mtns (especially around Steamboat), scattered showers in the C mtns, and none in the S mtns. This pattern will continue into Friday morning, followed by a general drying trend and mild afternoon temperatures. The forecast details: Central Mountains Wednesday aftn & night: Partly cloudy, isolated snow showers, T-1. Winds W/10-20. Lows 5-15. Thursday: Partly cloudy, isolated snow showers, T-1. Winds W/10-20 G40 abv TL. Highs 17-27. Lows 10-20. Friday: Partly cloudy. Winds SW/10-20. Highs 25-35. SNOWPACK Currently BC avalanche warnings are effect for the N mtns (north of a line from Denver to Hoosier Pass to Glenwood) and for the W San Juans. I will keep these in effect at least through midday Thursday. I expect winds to increase tonight in the N&C mtns, which will increase blowing snow, while the S mtns may be spared high winds and significant blowing snow. Avalanches reported as of 2 pm today are ... 6 explosive-controlled on Loveland Pass and at Ike Tunnel, and 5 naturals ... many shallow exp-controlled at Breckenridge ... 1 ski-triggered near Francies Cabin ... 6 exp-controlled (to the ground) on Grand Mesa ... 12 exp-controlled on Red Mtn Pass ... and 2 exp-controlled at Telluride. Most released the new snow only. Visibility in the Elkhead Mtns and Park Range has been poor, as it is at high elevations of the Front Range, so we do not have very reliable reports on BC activity. The backcountry avalanche danger: N mtns: An overall HIGH danger, and an Avalanche Warning is in effect. Natural and triggered releases are likely. C mtns: Near and above TL, CONSIDERABLE but areas of HIGH on all slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Well below TL, MODERATE but areas of CONSIDERABLE on all aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Natural and triggered releases are probable. W San Juans: An overall HIGH danger, and an Avalanche Warning is in effect. Triggered releases are likely. E San Juans around Wolf Creek: Near and above TL, CONSIDERABLE. Well below TL, MODERATE but areas of CONSIDERABLE on all aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Williams Southern Mountains This is Knox in the Avalanche Center at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, March 5, 2003. DISCUSSION Snowfall has tapered off to showers in all mtns, and theres enough low moisture to keep these going into tonight. So far, the only strong winds have been in the Front Range and 10 Mile Range, with gusts to 45 above TL. Tonight winds become more westerly, and speeds will increase as the jet will be over Wyoming. On Thursday, temperatures will warm, winds will remain moderately strong, and there will be enough moisture to sustain snowshowers much of the day in the N mtns (especially around Steamboat), scattered showers in the C mtns, and none in the S mtns. This pattern will continue into Friday morning, followed by a general drying trend and mild afternoon temperatures. The forecast details: Southern Mountains Wednesday aftn & night: Partly cloudy, isolated snow showers, T-1. Winds W/10-20. Lows 5-15. Thursday: Partly cloudy. Winds WSW/15-25 G40 abv TL. Highs 17-27. Lows 10-20. Friday: Partly cloudy. Winds WSW/10-20 G30. Highs 20s. SNOWPACK Currently BC avalanche warnings are effect for the N mtns (north of a line from Denver to Hoosier Pass to Glenwood) and for the W San Juans. I will keep these in effect at least through midday Thursday. I expect winds to increase tonight in the N&C mtns, which will increase blowing snow, while the S mtns may be spared high winds and significant blowing snow. Avalanches reported as of 2 pm today are ... 6 explosive-controlled on Loveland Pass and at Ike Tunnel, and 5 naturals ... many shallow exp-controlled at Breckenridge ... 1 ski-triggered near Francies Cabin ... 6 exp-controlled (to the ground) on Grand Mesa ... 12 exp-controlled on Red Mtn Pass ... and 2 exp-controlled at Telluride. Most released the new snow only. Visibility in the Elkhead Mtns and Park Range has been poor, as it is at high elevations of the Front Range, so we do not have very reliable reports on BC activity. The backcountry avalanche danger: N mtns: An overall HIGH danger, and an Avalanche Warning is in effect. Natural and triggered releases are likely. C mtns: Near and above TL, CONSIDERABLE but areas of HIGH on all slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Well below TL, MODERATE but areas of CONSIDERABLE on all aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Natural and triggered releases are probable. W San Juans: An overall HIGH danger, and an Avalanche Warning is in effect. Triggered releases are likely. E San Juans around Wolf Creek: Near and above TL, CONSIDERABLE. Well below TL, MODERATE but areas of CONSIDERABLE on all aspects steeper than 35 degrees. Williams