Winter storm winding up across Colorado

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Avalanche incidents on the rise in the backcountry

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A winter storm swirls across Colorado.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A slow-moving winter storm crossing Colorado Wednesday night through Thursday could deliver several more inches of snow to soften up the slopes for the incoming wave of holiday skiers.

The National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories for most of the western Colorado mountains, where 3 to 10 inches of snow could pile up by late Thursday night. Snow started falling in the southern mountains Wednesday morning under a southwest flow, but most ski areas only reported a trace as of Wednesday evening, with the exception of Silverton Mountain which reported 8 inches (36-inch base) in the afternoon snow report from Colorado Ski Country USA.

The heaviest snow in the central and northern mountains is expected after midnight. Winds from the west and northwest could bring 2 to 5 inches of snow to favored west-facing slopes. Light to moderate snow could continue into Thursday night before tapering off as high pressure builds into the region, bringing cold temperatures for late in the week and the first part of the weekend. (more…)

Filed under: avalanches, climate and weather, Colorado, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Morning photo: Snowy day

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Finally!

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Snow poppies.

FRISCO — It was one of those monochromatic snow days in the Colorado high country, so rather than fighting it, I tried some of the subdued Instagram filters on a series of shots taken right around the neighborhood here in Frisco. The poppies, so gloriously red in June, are now mere husks, but still stand tall in the flower beds, and there really is nothing nicer than a quiet snowfall in an aspen grove.

Many of the images in Summit Voice photo essays are available in our Fine Art America online gallery, and there’s also Summit County gallery at our ImageKind website. You can also order images by contacting me directly at bberwyn@comcast.net. It’s a great way to support independent online journalism! (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Morning photo, photography, seasons, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: The storm door is open

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

“You may want to call in sick and ride blue-bird powder for a few days prior to the apocalypse … “        ~Colorado Avalanche Information Center

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A potent weather system is developing for the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

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Winter storm warnings, watches and advisories prevail across western Colorado and eastern Utah. Click on the map for more details from the NWS.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Dreams of a white Christmas will come true for residents of the Colorado high country, as a series of winter storms will potentially drop up to several feet of snow across most of the state’s mountains in the days leading up to Santa’s arrival.

Most of the mountain areas are under winter storm warnings, watches and advisories for the early part of the week, as the wintry weather is expected to culminate with a strong system moving through the area Tuesday night that could deliver some “eye-popping” snowfall rates, according to the National Weather Service, which may soon be issuing blizzard warnings in some mountain zones.

The snow will also drastically increase the backcountry avalanche danger, where special warnings may be issues. Check in with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center for the latest. Already, large avalanches have been reported from a few locations, including Uneva Bowl, a popular powder skiing destination near Vail Pass. (more…)

Filed under: avalanches, climate and weather, Colorado, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Climate: More snow in Antarctica will speed up ice loss

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Antarctica ice-loss rate about equal to Greenland’s

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Increasing snowfall in Antarctica could — almost paradoxically — speed up the loss of ice mass. Bob Berwyn photo.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — German researchers say they’ve placed another piece of the Antarctic climate puzzle by calculating how heavier snowfall on the frozen continent is likely to increase future ice discharges from the continental ice sheets.

Their study, published this week in Nature, shows that a lot of the Antarctic ice gain due to increased snowfall is countered by an acceleration of ice-flow to the ocean. Thus, Antarctica’s contribution to global sea-level rise is probably greater than estimated, the team of authors from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research concluded.

The research team’s ensemble of ice-physics simulations shows that future ice discharge will increased up to three times because of additional precipitation in Antarctica under global warming. During the last decade, the Antarctic ice-sheet has lost volume at a rate comparable to that of Greenland. (more…)

Filed under: Antarctica, climate and weather, Environment, global warming, snow | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Colorado: Avalanche danger ramps up with new snow, wind

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn
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There’s already a layer of unstable faceted snow crystals at the base of the snowpack, potentially setting up avalanche hazards in the backcountry. Bob Berwyn photo.

Avalanche awareness classes being offered all around the state

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO —There haven’t been any avalanche accidents yet this season in the Summit County backcountry, but avalanche control work around Loveland Pass triggered several slides that broke all the way to the ground and ran considerable distances, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

More than a foot of new snow combined with steady west-northwest winds have quickly ramped the backcountry avalanche danger up into the high end of the warning scale across most of Colorado’s northern and central mountains.

This season’s snowpack is starting out almost as poorly as last winter’s when snowslides claimed seven lives in Colorado. With skiers and riders eager to get out and sample some of the fresh powder, avy pros emphasize that education and awareness are the key to safe travel in the backcountry. (more…)

Filed under: avalanches, Colorado, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Morning photo: December snow

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Dressed in white …

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Winter in the Tenmile Range.

FRISCO — Finally, winter decided to make an appearance, a little late, to be sure, but welcome nonetheless. It’s always a great feeling to bed at night with a heavy snow falling, knowing that the world will look like a new place the next morning. There’s really nothing quite as transformative as a fresh snow, so let’s hope it keeps up.

Many of the images in Summit Voice photo essays are available in our Fine Art America online gallery, and there’s also Summit County gallery at our ImageKind website. You can also order images by contacting me directly at bberwyn@comcast.net. It’s a great way to support independent online journalism! (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Morning photo, photography, snow, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado: Storm delivers needed snowfall

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Bob Berwyn
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Fresh snow in the Colorado high country.

Monday could see additional accumulations in the high country

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A chilly storm out of the north brought widespread snow to the Colorado high country Saturday afternoon and evening, with most areas reporting between 5 and 8 inches of accumulation. The snow will wind down Sunday with only a few flurries lingering over the higher peaks as temperatures drop to the lowest readings of the season.

Copper, Keystone, A-Basin and Breckenridge all reported about half a foot of snow in the 24 hours ending Sunday morning, with 9 inches at Eldora, 15 inches at Aspen Mountain and 14 inches at Snowmass. Get the full snow report at the CSCUSA website. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Morning photo: Snow dreams …

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

We want our winter wonderland!

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In the heart of the big 2010-2011 winter the snow was three feet deep even down on the valley floor, where it felt like it would never melt.

FRISCO —I think we’re all ready for it now. After all, it is the first week of December, a time of year when we traditionally start thinking about a white Christmas. And with an incoming storm forecast to drop at least a few inches the next few days, I know that I’ll be dreaming about snow tonight. Since the daily photo essay is always the last post that I schedule before signing off for the day, I’ll have these snowy images from winters past in my mind as I go to bed. Snow is renewal, snow is healing, snow is life.

Many of the images in Summit Voice photo essays are available in our Fine Art America online gallery, and there’s also Summit County gallery at our ImageKind website. You can also order images by contacting me directly at bberwyn@comcast.net. It’s a great way to support independent online journalism! (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Morning photo, photography, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County Colorado, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Winter weather and wind warnings hoisted

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

‘A swift river of moist Pacific air …’

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Pacific moisture and Arctic cold are headed for Colorado.

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State snowpack could use a boost.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — National Weather Service forecasters generally don’t wax poetic in their forecasts, but the latest update from the Denver-Boulder office includes phrases that will ring musically in the ears of snow-starved Colorado skiers and water managers.

In short, it’s going to be cold, snowy and windy — conditions we haven’t seen in the high country for about nine months, since sometime last February. Ahead of the storm, forecasters have issued a high wind warning for Summit County and the northern Front Range for 11 p.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Saturday evening. Winds of 50 to 60 mph are expected, with near-hurricane force gusts up to 80 mph possible after midnight. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Colorado: Snowpack shrinking

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Mainly warm and dry conditions forecast for the coming week

NOAA’s snow-depth map shows how far north the storm track has stayed, with plenty of snow cover across the Pacific Northwest (especially western Canada) and the northern Rockies from Wyoming through Montana and Idaho.

FRISCO — In a concerning sign for water managers, Colorado’s snowpack is shrinking at a time of year when it usually grows steadily. Through late November, the statewide snowpack is tracking well below the historic average and just barely above the all-time minimum. Late fall and early winter snow tends to freeze into a solid base layer that melts slowly in the spring to sustain spring runoff. Below-average snowpack this time of year could foreshadow a second subsequent below-average runoff season, with little relief for the state’s depleted rivers and reservoirs. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, seasons, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

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