Steamboat ========= Current Keywords: CONSIDERABLE, MODERATE, avalanche danger, orographics, slabs, sluffing, stress, wind slab, Mountain Weather and Avalanche Forecast for the Steamboat and Parks Range Zone Forecast Issued on 1/31/2008 4:25:58 PM Forecaster: Spencer Logan Weather Synopsis Blue skies will give was to snow tonight. The next weather is coming in as northwesterly flow brings in a series of moist ripples and impulses starting in the late afternoon. Scattered light snow will start along the Wyoming border and spill southwards overnight. Light snow will reach the northern San Juans by dawn. All the northern and central zones will see a few inches of accumulation overnight and Friday morning. The jet stream sags southwards overnight, gusts upwards of 80 mph are possible in the northern and central mountains. Snowfall eases Friday afternoon, but light snow will continue into Saturday morning. It looks like the ripples and impulses will continue through the weekend, with 4-8 inches every 12 hours in favored locations. Plenty of moisture and good orographics means the snow will add up. Weather Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Temperature(°F) -3 to 2 15-20 0-5 Wind Speed(mph) 20-30 G50 25-35 G50 20-30 Wind Direction WSW W W Sky Cover Mostly Cloudy Overcast Overcast Snow(in) 5-7 8-12 4-8 Snowpack Discussion Observers near the ski area reported over a foot of snow and no winds on Wednesday. The snowy streak will resume Thursday night. The relatively slow new snow loading is a generally good thing for the snowpack, not stressing it too much at one time. Unfortunately, the winds will be back to the higher elevations on Friday, increasing the load in the north through east to south aspects. Strong southwest winds during the last storm transported a good deal of snow, especially above 9000 feet. The winds created fresh slabs in exposed areas on north through southeast aspects. Releasing a recent wind slab on a steep, exposed north, northeast, east, or southeast slope is the primary avalanche concern today. Watch for sluffing in the new snow as well. Observers did report some interesting slides along Highway 160. The slides were below 8000 feet, on west to northwest aspects, broke 2 to 3 feet deep and propagated several hundred feet wide. Cool--more proof that unusual storms bring unusual avalanches. Avalanche Danger The avalanche danger in the Steamboat Zone is CONSIDERABLE on north, northeast, east, southeast and south aspects near and above treeline. On other aspcets andf below treeline the danger is MODERATE. Human triggered slides are possible to probable today.