Northern Mountains

This is Dale in the Avalanche Center at 1:50 pm, Sunday, March 09,
2003.
DISCUSSION
Brisk westerly flow to continue through the week. Very weak systems
will brush the N mtns late tonight and again Tuesday and bring a
little snow to the high country. Expect a few showers tonight in the N
mtns into Monday with a better chance for snow on Tuesday. Models
advertising a big warm up for Thursday and Friday. The forecast
details:
Northern Mountains
Sunday night: Becoming mostly cloudy, chance for showers developing
after midnight, 0-2 inches. Increasing winds above treeline late this
evening W/20-30 G60. Lows 16 to 26.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, scattered snow showers 0-2 inches. Strong
morning winds decreasing in afternoon WNW/15-25 G40s. Highs 28 to 38.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, light snow, T-3 inches. Winds W/10-20 G40.
Highs 25 to 35.
SNOWPACK
In all mountain areas the sunshine and mild temperatures are helping
the surface layers gain some strength, especially on the more sunny
aspects; however, at the lower elevations below about 9500 feet the
snow will turn wet and some wet releases can be expected both at lower
elevations and from steep, rocky areas at the higher elevations. The
northerly aspects are still cold and dry with deep instabilities
lurking. In the N mtns (and other mountain areas, too) the danger is
compounded by recently formed thick hard and not-so-hard slabs on
leeward slopes. In the backcountry these slabs will require bigger or
more triggers. Beware these slabs may inspire false confidence luring
backcountry travelers further out onto slopes before releasing large
areas. The bottom line is dont trust hard slabs and dont trust fresh,
steep, wind-drifted areas.
Ski area control work with explosives are still triggering avalanches,
and so to are backcountry travelers. This morning snowmobilers on
Machinegun Ridge near Vail Pass triggered several slabs on steep
easterly aspects above treeline. And around lunch time a snowmobiler
was buried in the Sawatch Range south of Cottonwood Pass. A search is
underway.
Extra caution is still needed for backcountry travel in all mountain
areas. Triggered releases by backcountry travelers are still probable,
especially on the steeper, leeward slopes where recent winds have
drifted snow in the past week. With persistent deep slab instability
existing in most mountain areas backcountry travelers will be wise to
reduce their expectations for the steep and deep until we are well
into the spring.
No changes from this mornings backcountry avalanche danger:
N, C, and S mtns: CONSIDERABLE on W to N to E aspects all elevations.
MODERATE on SE to SW aspects at all elevations. Be alert for wet
releases at lower elevations and from steep rocky areas at the higher
elevations.
Atkins

Central Mountains

This is Dale in the Avalanche Center at 1:50 pm, Sunday, March 09,
2003.
DISCUSSION
Brisk westerly flow to continue through the week. Very weak systems
will brush the N mtns late tonight and again Tuesday and bring a
little snow to the high country. Expect a few showers tonight in the N
mtns into Monday with a better chance for snow on Tuesday. Models
advertising a big warm up for Thursday and Friday. The forecast
details:
Central Mountains
Sunday night: Becoming partly cloudy in Aspen and Leadville zones.
Staying mostly clear in South Sawatch Range (Monarch Pass area) and
Crested Butte zone. Winds above treeline W/15-25 G40s. Lows 16 to 26.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Winds W/15-25 G40s. Highs 29 to 39.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Winds WNW/10-20 G30s. Highs 30 to 40.
SNOWPACK
In all mountain areas the sunshine and mild temperatures are helping
the surface layers gain some strength, especially on the more sunny
aspects; however, at the lower elevations below about 9500 feet the
snow will turn wet and some wet releases can be expected both at lower
elevations and from steep, rocky areas at the higher elevations. The
northerly aspects are still cold and dry with deep instabilities
lurking. In the N mtns (and other mountain areas, too) the danger is
compounded by recently formed thick hard and not-so-hard slabs on
leeward slopes. In the backcountry these slabs will require bigger or
more triggers. Beware these slabs may inspire false confidence luring
backcountry travelers further out onto slopes before releasing large
areas. The bottom line is dont trust hard slabs and dont trust fresh,
steep, wind-drifted areas.
Ski area control work with explosives are still triggering avalanches,
and so to are backcountry travelers. This morning snowmobilers on
Machinegun Ridge near Vail Pass triggered several slabs on steep
easterly aspects above treeline. And around lunch time a snowmobiler
was buried in the Sawatch Range south of Cottonwood Pass. A search is
underway.
Extra caution is still needed for backcountry travel in all mountain
areas. Triggered releases by backcountry travelers are still probable,
especially on the steeper, leeward slopes where recent winds have
drifted snow in the past week. With persistent deep slab instability
existing in most mountain areas backcountry travelers will be wise to
reduce their expectations for the steep and deep until we are well
into the spring.
No changes from this mornings backcountry avalanche danger:
N, C, and S mtns: CONSIDERABLE on W to N to E aspects all elevations.
MODERATE on SE to SW aspects at all elevations. Be alert for wet
releases at lower elevations and from steep rocky areas at the higher
elevations.
Atkins

Southern Mountains

This is Dale in the Avalanche Center at 1:50 pm, Sunday, March 09,
2003.
DISCUSSION
Brisk westerly flow to continue through the week. Very weak systems
will brush the N mtns late tonight and again Tuesday and bring a
little snow to the high country. Expect a few showers tonight in the N
mtns into Monday with a better chance for snow on Tuesday. Models
advertising a big warm up for Thursday and Friday. The forecast
details:
Southern Mountains
Sunday night: Clear. Winds NW/15-25 G40. Lows 16 to 26.
Monday: Mostly sunny. Winds W/10-20 G30s. Highs 30 to 40.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Winds W/10-20 G30. Highs 30 to
40.
SNOWPACK
In all mountain areas the sunshine and mild temperatures are helping
the surface layers gain some strength, especially on the more sunny
aspects; however, at the lower elevations below about 9500 feet the
snow will turn wet and some wet releases can be expected both at lower
elevations and from steep, rocky areas at the higher elevations. The
northerly aspects are still cold and dry with deep instabilities
lurking. In the N mtns (and other mountain areas, too) the danger is
compounded by recently formed thick hard and not-so-hard slabs on
leeward slopes. In the backcountry these slabs will require bigger or
more triggers. Beware these slabs may inspire false confidence luring
backcountry travelers further out onto slopes before releasing large
areas. The bottom line is dont trust hard slabs and dont trust fresh,
steep, wind-drifted areas.
Ski area control work with explosives are still triggering avalanches,
and so to are backcountry travelers. This morning snowmobilers on
Machinegun Ridge near Vail Pass triggered several slabs on steep
easterly aspects above treeline. And around lunch time a snowmobiler
was buried in the Sawatch Range south of Cottonwood Pass. A search is
underway.
Extra caution is still needed for backcountry travel in all mountain
areas. Triggered releases by backcountry travelers are still probable,
especially on the steeper, leeward slopes where recent winds have
drifted snow in the past week. With persistent deep slab instability
existing in most mountain areas backcountry travelers will be wise to
reduce their expectations for the steep and deep until we are well
into the spring.
No changes from this mornings backcountry avalanche danger:
N, C, and S mtns: CONSIDERABLE on W to N to E aspects all elevations.
MODERATE on SE to SW aspects at all elevations. Be alert for wet
releases at lower elevations and from steep rocky areas at the higher
elevations.
Atkins