Summit County Citizens Voice

Bighorn sheep climb an embankment along U.S. Highway 6 over Loveland Pass in this file photo from last week. Look carefully and you'll see an avalanche field on the face of A-Basin's as-yet unopened Pali terrain in the background, underscoring the warning of considerable slide danger from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Click on the image for a larger view. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Another chilly morning in the high country, with only a little new snow to report around the area, including a half inch at Arapahoe Basin, 2 inches at Copper Mountain, and 1 inch at Breckenridge. In the northern mountains, Steamboat benefited the most from the cold flow of air out of the northwest, picking up 6 inches of Christmas fluff overnight.

Around the country, Alyeska reported 14 inches of new snow, while some of the midwestern ski resorts also scored from the winter storm that rolled through the mid-section of the country. Hyland Ski in Minnesota reported 11 inches and Snow Creek, Missouri picked up 8 inches.

Highs around Summit County Saturday will range from the single digits into the low teens, with lows expected to drop back below zero Saturday night. Expect a warm-up to more seasonal temperatures Sunday. Highs in the teens, sunny skies and light winds should make for a good ski day.

The National Weather Service is calling for a chance of snow again Tuesday, with a storm moving in from the southwest. Later in the week, a northwest flow will return, bringing an on-and-off chance for snow showers in the northern mountains, according to the latest forecast from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Avalanche conditions haven’t changed much in the past few days. Human-triggered slides remain likely on steep, wind-loaded slopes, where the avalanche danger is rated as considerable above treeline on north to southwest-facing slopes.

Please go to the CAIC site for a full forecast, or call the Summit County avalanche hotline at (970) 668-0600 for a full update.

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