Colorado: Winds add to avalanche woes

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Avalanche danger still at ‘considerable” rating; don’t let your guard down

High winds in the alpine zone have reloaded avalanche paths in the Colorado high country.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Despite a few days of sunny weather across the high country, forecasters with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center warn that the backcountry avalanche danger hasn’t eased much — in fact, strong winds have redeposited some of the fresh snow into avalanche starting zones as thick slabs that are still sitting atop a base of weak layers. (more…)

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Weatherblog: Winter avalanche hazards in backcountry

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

A frozen pond, April 30, in Summit County, Colorado

Winter lingers into May ...

A warm-up coming early in the week, but showers return by Wednesday

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — May is starting exactly the way April ended: Thick, wet snowflakes falling out of a chilly sky. It’s 18 degrees in Frisco at 6:59 a.m. and the forecast high is forecast to reach only the mid 30s, with a good chance of snow showers all day long — Happy May Day!

Look for more of the same for Sunday, with an even better chance of snow and highs once again in the low 30s. A bit of relief for Monday, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the 40s, and even warmer Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the backcountry, the cold temperatures and new snow mean a return to “full-on” winter conditions, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The forecasters have stopped issuing daily bulletins but are updating the hotline and website Wednesday, Friday and Sunday afternoon. (more…)

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Weatherblog: Avalanche watch through 12 p.m.

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

A storm taking shape in the Gulf of Alaska will affect the Vancouver Olympics and could be the next weather-maker for Summit County mid-week.

Snowfall around the state, with storm totals up to 3 feet reported from the San Juans

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Widespread weekend snowfall was reported from across the Summit-Vail zone and around Colorado, with 21 inches at Wolf Creek, 12 at Monarch, 11 at Aspen Mountain and 10 inches at Powderhorn and Aspen Highlands. In Summit County, Copper and Breckenridge reported 5 inches, with 3 at Keystone and 2 inches at A-Basin.

It should be great powder skiing at local resorts today under clearing skies, while an avalanche warning remains in effect for the Summit-Vail backcountry at least through noon today. Weekend reports of natural and human-triggered slides indicate there is a potential for dangerous avalanche activity.

Check in with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center for the latest forecast and updated avalanche conditions here, or call the Summit hotline at (970) 668-0600 before heading into the backcountry.

(more…)

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Weatherblog: Avalanche watch issued for Summit zone

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Avalanche warnings are in effect across most of the Colorado mountains. Click on the image for a full forecast and avalanche bulletin.

Plenty of fresh powder at local ski areas, while triggered and natural slides are likely in the Summit-Vail backcountry zone

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Another nice round of snow for the ski resorts in the Summit-Vail area, including 6 inches at Beaver Creek and 4 inches at Vail and Keystone. A-Basin and Copper reported 3 inches, while Breckenridge reported 2 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours. For the past couple of days, totals for the local resorts range between 8 and 16 inches.

Check out the impressive snowfall totals from around the state with the Colorado Ski Country USA snow report, and the Vail Resorts snow totals at Snow.com.

The biggest snows were in the central and southern mountains, with 48 inches reported at Wolf Creek in the past 48 hours. More wet, heavy snow is expected today and tonight in the San Juans and as far north as the Elk Mountains. (more…)

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Weatherblog: The storm door is open

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

A National Weather Service map show the potential for significant amounts of snow across most of the Colorado mountains.

Snow expected through Sunday night, backcountry avalanche danger remains in the red zone, with natural and triggered slides likely

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — It looks like Ullr has finally turned his attention to Summit County, with at least six inches of fresh snow across the area and higher totals in some spots.

A-Basin is reporting 5 inches, Copper Mountain, 4 inches and 7 inches at Breckenridge. Keystone also picked up 4 inches, with snowfall finally cracking the 100-inch mark at the resort on the east side of the county, where snowfall has been most scarce this season.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the Summit County area, with widespread snow forecast for the north-central mountains from late Saturday morning through Saturday night and up to 7 to 14 inches of accumulation possible.

Bigger dumps in the central and southern mountains, with 15 inches at Crested Butte and Wolf Creek, 13 inches at Telluride and 23 inches at Silverton Mountain. More heavy snow is expected across the southern part of the state today, where an avalanche warning is in effect across big parts of the San Juans. (more…)

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