Northern Mountains This is Nick in the Avalanche Center at 4:15 pm, Tuesday, March 9, 2004. DISCUSSION The storm in the Pacific NW is flattening our ridge of high pressure as it tracks toward CO. The new model run wants to bring in more moisture, sooner, and a little farther west. Thus, there is a good chance for snow showers in all of the N&C mtns and just a chance for isolated showers in the S mtns. Well see a drying trend from N to S Wed night. The next best chance for snow after this still looks to be later Friday night and into the weekend as the next system moves in, again from the Pacific NW. The forecast details: Tuesday night: Clear-partly cloudy. Winds WSW/15-25 G30s above TL. Lows 20-28. Wednesday: Increasing clouds, scattered showers, T-2. Winds NW/5-15. Highs 23-33. Wed night: Mostly cloudy, widely scattered showers, T-1. Winds WNW/5-15. Lows 17-25. Thursday: Clear-partly cloudy. Winds WNW/5-15. Highs 24-34. SNOWPACK Some avalanches have been reported today, but fewer than the last couple of days. In the N mtns, 2 natural releases ran yesterday in the Gore Range on S aspects well above TL, 3 were triggered at A-Basin yesterday afternoon, and 6 were spotted near Vail Pass on Ely aspects near and below TL. In the C mtns, one hardslab avalanche was observed near Irwin (W of Crested Butte) on an E aspect that released on the 7th, plus a few smaller slides in the area. No slides have been reported from the S mtns. I suspect we will hear about more slides later from afternoon warming. In general, the upper layers of the snowpack have been gaining strength from recent snow settlement. However during the warm weather were having, and later this spring, the surface layer gets much weaker when bonds between the snow grains melt. Extra caution is needed on the steeper slopes during this time. Cooler temperatures on Wednesday, especially in the N mtns, will help curtail wet snow avalanches so monitor local temperatures closely, and be aware of any free water in the snow that youre traveling on. More water equals a greater avalanche potential. Move to slopes less than 30-35 degrees in steepness wherever you encounter a wet snowpack. On southerly aspects from below timberline to just above TL where the snow is shallow, the whole snowpack may become soft and slushy, as was found near Copper Mtn today. Wet snow releases may be common on westerly aspects in the afternoon, especially near rocks and vegetation that soak up the afternoon heat. Also, cornices are prone to calving off during this time. Enjoy the fine weather but use extra caution during these spring-like conditions. The backcountry avalanche danger ratings are: Steamboat zone: generally LOW but with isolated pockets of MODERATE. Front Range and Vail/Summit County zones: MODERATE with areas of CONSIDERABLE, all aspects and elevations. Logan Central Mountains This is Nick in the Avalanche Center at 4:15 pm, Tuesday, March 9, 2004. DISCUSSION The storm in the Pacific NW is flattening our ridge of high pressure as it tracks toward CO. The new model run wants to bring in more moisture, sooner, and a little farther west. Thus, there is a good chance for snow showers in all of the N&C mtns and just a chance for isolated showers in the S mtns. Well see a drying trend from N to S Wed night. The next best chance for snow after this still looks to be later Friday night and into the weekend as the next system moves in, again from the Pacific NW. The forecast details: Tuesday night: Clear-partly cloudy. Winds W/15-25 G40 above TL. Lows 22-30. Wednesday: Turning mostly cloudy, isolated showers possible. Winds NW/5-10, few G20s above TL early. Highs 25-32. Wed night: Partly cloudy. Winds N/0-10. Lows 22-28. Thursday: Clear-partly cloudy. Winds WNW/5-15. Highs 27-35. SNOWPACK Some avalanches have been reported today, but fewer than the last couple of days. In the N mtns, 2 natural releases ran yesterday in the Gore Range on S aspects well above TL, 3 were triggered at A-Basin yesterday afternoon, and 6 were spotted near Vail Pass on Ely aspects near and below TL. In the C mtns, one hardslab avalanche was observed near Irwin (W of Crested Butte) on an E aspect that released on the 7th, plus a few smaller slides in the area. No slides have been reported from the S mtns. I suspect we will hear about more slides later from afternoon warming. In general, the upper layers of the snowpack have been gaining strength from recent snow settlement. However during the warm weather were having, and later this spring, the surface layer gets much weaker when bonds between the snow grains melt. Extra caution is needed on the steeper slopes during this time. Cooler temperatures on Wednesday, especially in the N mtns, will help curtail wet snow avalanches so monitor local temperatures closely, and be aware of any free water in the snow that youre traveling on. More water equals a greater avalanche potential. Move to slopes less than 30-35 degrees in steepness wherever you encounter a wet snowpack. On southerly aspects from below timberline to just above TL where the snow is shallow, the whole snowpack may become soft and slushy, as was found near Copper Mtn today. Wet snow releases may be common on westerly aspects in the afternoon, especially near rocks and vegetation that soak up the afternoon heat. Also, cornices are prone to calving off during this time. Enjoy the fine weather but use extra caution during these spring-like conditions. The backcountry avalanche danger rating is: C Mtns: generally MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE, all aspects and elevations. Logan