Northern Mountains

This is Knox in the Avalanche Center at 2:00 pm, Friday, April 9,
2004.
DISCUSSION
The system that is approaching from the NW is on track to be into NW
Colorado by tonight. Today there is plenty of moisture throughout
Colorado and it is bringing rain showers below about 6500 ft and snow
showers above that elevation ... on both sides of the Front Range.
This afternoon, snowshowers will bring 2-4 to just about all mountain
sites. Then tonight, snow will favor the N mtns as the system moves
in, and upslope snows will intensify for the east slope of the Front
Range. On Saturday, the center of the system will drop into the 4
Corners area. This will increase snow showers for the C&S mtns, while
the N mtns west of the Front Range will see snowfall largely end
because of east winds. Also Saturday, E-SE winds will keep upslope
snows going on the E side of the Front Range and Sangres ... and up
the Arkansas Valley into Monarch Pass. By Sunday, snowfall will have
mostly ended, but there is a second weak wave that could come out of
the north and bring snow showers to the N mtns. It will be much colder
Saturday & Sunday. The forecast details:
Friday aftn & night: Cloudy, snow, 5-10. Winds NE/5-15 G25. Lows
12-22.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, showers, 2-5 E side of Front Range, T-3 W
side. Winds E/5-15. Highs 18-28. Lows 7-17.
Sunday: Partly cloudy, light snow showers possible. Winds NNW/5-10.
Highs 22-32.
SNOWPACK
Additional reports of new snow this morning (after the morning
forecast went out) were Aspen Mtn 9, Snowmass 8, Gothic 7, Red Mtn
pass 7.5, and Telluride about 8. During the day today, another 1-3 has
fallen in most mountain areas. Winds are light so that slabbing is
minimal. No avalanches have been reported today or yesterday. The
snowpack is firm beneath the new snow that has fallen.
On Saturday there will be areas of shallow soft slab and therefore
areas of MODERATE avalanche danger, especially in the Front Range and
in portions of the mountains west of the Front Range, where 2-day snow
totals are 10+ inches. I expect that shallow slabs could be triggered
in the backcountry by skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers,
especially near and above TL. A little extra caution should be used
through the weekend, and this includes traveling potential avalanche
areas one at a time, have an escape route planned if the snow starts
to move, and carry and know how to use avalanche rescue gear.
Williams

Central Mountains

This is Knox in the Avalanche Center at 2:00 pm, Friday, April 9,
2004.
DISCUSSION
The system that is approaching from the NW is on track to be into NW
Colorado by tonight. Today there is plenty of moisture throughout
Colorado and it is bringing rain showers below about 6500 ft and snow
showers above that elevation ... on both sides of the Front Range.
This afternoon, snowshowers will bring 2-4 to just about all mountain
sites. Then tonight, snow will favor the N mtns as the system moves
in, and upslope snows will intensify for the east slope of the Front
Range. On Saturday, the center of the system will drop into the 4
Corners area. This will increase snow showers for the C&S mtns, while
the N mtns west of the Front Range will see snowfall largely end
because of east winds. Also Saturday, E-SE winds will keep upslope
snows going on the E side of the Front Range and Sangres ... and up
the Arkansas Valley into Monarch Pass. By Sunday, snowfall will have
mostly ended, but there is a second weak wave that could come out of
the north and bring snow showers to the N mtns. It will be much colder
Saturday & Sunday. The forecast details:
Friday aftn & night: Cloudy, snow showers, 3-5. Winds NW-E/5-15. Lows
15-25.
Saturday: Cloudy, snow showers, 3-5. Winds E/5-15. Highs 20-30. Lows
10-20.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Winds NNW/5-10. Highs 25-35.
SNOWPACK
Additional reports of new snow this morning (after the morning
forecast went out) were Aspen Mtn 9, Snowmass 8, Gothic 7, Red Mtn
pass 7.5, and Telluride about 8. During the day today, another 1-3 has
fallen in most mountain areas. Winds are light so that slabbing is
minimal. No avalanches have been reported today or yesterday. The
snowpack is firm beneath the new snow that has fallen.
On Saturday there will be areas of shallow soft slab and therefore
areas of MODERATE avalanche danger, especially in the Front Range and
in portions of the mountains west of the Front Range, where 2-day snow
totals are 10+ inches. I expect that shallow slabs could be triggered
in the backcountry by skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers,
especially near and above TL. A little extra caution should be used
through the weekend, and this includes traveling potential avalanche
areas one at a time, have an escape route planned if the snow starts
to move, and carry and know how to use avalanche rescue gear.
Williams

Southern Mountains

This is Knox in the Avalanche Center at 2:00 pm, Friday, April 9,
2004.
DISCUSSION
The system that is approaching from the NW is on track to be into NW
Colorado by tonight. Today there is plenty of moisture throughout
Colorado and it is bringing rain showers below about 6500 ft and snow
showers above that elevation ... on both sides of the Front Range.
This afternoon, snowshowers will bring 2-4 to just about all mountain
sites. Then tonight, snow will favor the N mtns as the system moves
in, and upslope snows will intensify for the east slope of the Front
Range. On Saturday, the center of the system will drop into the 4
Corners area. This will increase snow showers for the C&S mtns, while
the N mtns west of the Front Range will see snowfall largely end
because of east winds. Also Saturday, E-SE winds will keep upslope
snows going on the E side of the Front Range and Sangres ... and up
the Arkansas Valley into Monarch Pass. By Sunday, snowfall will have
mostly ended, but there is a second weak wave that could come out of
the north and bring snow showers to the N mtns. It will be much colder
Saturday & Sunday. The forecast details:
Friday aftn & night: Cloudy, snow showers, 3-5. Winds WNW-SW/5-15.
Lows 15-25.
Saturday: Cloudy, snow showers, 4-7. Winds SE/5-15. Highs 20-30. Lows
10-20.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Winds NNW/5-10. Highs 25-35.
SNOWPACK
Additional reports of new snow this morning (after the morning
forecast went out) were Aspen Mtn 9, Snowmass 8, Gothic 7, Red Mtn
pass 7.5, and Telluride about 8. During the day today, another 1-3 has
fallen in most mountain areas. Winds are light so that slabbing is
minimal. No avalanches have been reported today or yesterday. The
snowpack is firm beneath the new snow that has fallen.
On Saturday there will be areas of shallow soft slab and therefore
areas of MODERATE avalanche danger, especially in the Front Range and
in portions of the mountains west of the Front Range, where 2-day snow
totals are 10+ inches. I expect that shallow slabs could be triggered
in the backcountry by skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers,
especially near and above TL. A little extra caution should be used
through the weekend, and this includes traveling potential avalanche
areas one at a time, have an escape route planned if the snow starts
to move, and carry and know how to use avalanche rescue gear.
Williams