Morning photo: Spring potpourri

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Will it ever melt?

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Soft serve.

FRISCO — A short set with a potpourri of images from the most recent storm and the early part of the weekend. It’s pretty amazing the way the wet spring snow really sticks to everything. Even if it’s not the dead of winter, it can, like the top photo in the set, look snowier this time of year than it does in December, January or February. Please visit our online FineArt America gallery for a selection of stunning Summit County landscapes. (more…)

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

Colorado: Report says deadly Loveland Pass slide went unnoticed for several hours

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

State report concludes the April 20 avalanche accident that killed five people was avoidable

Looking east along the crown line of an April 20 avalanche that killed five men in the Sheep Creek drainage

Looking east along the crown line of an April 20 avalanche that killed five men in the Sheep Creek drainage near Loveland Pass, Colorado. Photo courtesy CAIC.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — It’s April in Colorado and heavy snow is falling on the mountains of the Continental Divide, where a high-spirited group of mountain enthusiasts gather to plan a short backcountry tour, envisioning dreamy, floating turns and faceshots on the slopes of Mt. Sniktau, a mountain along the Continental Divide between Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin where planners once hoped to create an Olympic ski arena.

Well equipped and versed in backcountry travel, the six men head up Loveland Pass, a Mecca for Colorado backcountry skiers since the early days of the sport. At Scotty’s Corner, the last hairpin before the crest, the men headed east across the face of the 13,234-foot peak, aiming for northwest facing slopes on the far side of a broad gully that splits the face of the peak, according to an April 24 report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Recognizing the potential danger of avalanches, the group identifies what they thought was a safe zone near a cluster of trees on a knoll on the far side of the drainage. They discuss the avalanche danger again, agreeing to spread out as they crossed the slope. But they aren’t cautious enough, given the magnitude of the slide they ultimately trigger at about 10:15 a.m. (more…)

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

Morning photo: One more storm …

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

April showers …

Clearing storm in the North Tenmile Creek drainage, Frisco, Colorado.

Clearing storm in the North Tenmile Creek drainage, Frisco, Colorado.

FRISCO — If the weathermen are right, this may truly have been the last big snowstorm of the season (but who knows, right?) so I had to pick out just a few more shots from an early morning Frisco iPhone walkabout. Snow is good anytime of the year, but the late-April bonus storms are the best, not just for the scenery, but for the sake of boosting our mountain snowpack. (more…)

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Morning photo: Winter wonderland

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Biggest snowfall of the year …

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Meadow Creek sparkling after an overnight snowfall dropped about 7 inches of snow on Frisco, Colorado — the biggest single-day snowfall of the year.

FRISCO — Mother Nature delivered a nice surprise over the weekend, dropping anywhere from 6 to 15 inches of snow across parts of the north-central mountains. Along with making for great conditions on one of the final ski weekends of the season at some resorts, the storm brought some much-needed moisture to the Colorado River Basin. It may not be a drought-buster, but it sure won’t hurt. (more…)

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

Morning photo: Winter’s last gasp?

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

March snow

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The Walmart wetlands.

FRISCO —A last little taste of winter in the Colorado high country, as March finally delivered some much needed white stuff. Of course, it melted nearly as fast as it fell, but that didn’t really matter. For a couple of days at least, it looked pretty wintry, and the moisture didn’t hut, either. Sure, there’s still a drought, but hopefully some of the moisture this month will at least take the sharpest edge off. (more…)

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Colorado: Spring storm packs a punch

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Resorts reporting powder conditions, but road conditions could hamper access, while the backcountry avalanche danger soars

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An active northern jet stream is bringing cold air and moisture to the northern tier of states, including Colorado. On and off snow is possible through the weekend.

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The CAIC is reporting numerous backcountry avalanches. Click here for more photos.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — March is living up to its reputation as the snowiest month in the Colorado high country, with chilly spring storm snarling roads, intensifying avalanche danger and adding much-needed moisture to the state’s snowpack.

Ski areas around the state are generally reporting up to 12 inches of new snow in the past few days, and moderate to heavy snow continued falling Saturday morning. Some of the heaviest totals are expected east of the Continental Divide, where the California Department of Transportation reported bumper-to-bumper traffic around I-70 and C-470.

East of Denver, I-70 was closed to the Kansas border, and slick conditions on the westbound approach to the mountains prompted CDOT to require chains, snow tires or four-wheel drive for all vehicles in Mt. Vernon Canyon, just west of Denver.

(more…)

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

Morning photo: Snow, snow … snow!

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Spring fluff

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Gotta love the way that March snow sticks to the branches.

FRISCO — Finally, in the first few days of spring, winter weather showed up for real, with one of the biggest single-day snowfalls of the season here in Frisco. The snow was wet and heavy and settled quickly, so it was hard to get a good measurement of the daily total, but at least five inches piled up here in town. And it’s getting that time of year when you really appreciate the snowfall, knowing it could be the last (although the weather forecast is calling for more wintry weather this weekend). It’s kind of like that tingly feeling feeling when the first snows of autumn fall, except in reverse. Sometimes in the middle of the winter, we take it all for granted (but not this year), and some years, we even get fed up (although we shouldn’t). But Thursday’s snowfall was just about perfect. (more…)

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

Colorado: Storm rolling in …

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Forecaster still uncertain for high country snow totals

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A big Pacific trough is working its way inland, bringing snow to much of Colorado.

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By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A winter storm rolling out of the Four Corners toward Colorado is billed as having the potential to drop several feet of snow in parts of the state, but even late Friday night, forecast models were still not in complete agreement as to where the heaviest snow will fall Saturday through Sunday.

National Weather Service forecasters have issues winter storm watches and warnings, as well as blizzard watches for almost the entire state, but the Denver-based forecasters warned that, “Summit County could very well get sheltered again in this Front Range storm.” The forecasters also said the upper low might eject farther south than previously anticipated, which would push the heavier snow amounts farther south. Click here for the latest updates and links to all the warnings. (more…)

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February snowfall near average in Summit County

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Temps run well below normal at Dillon weather station

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A satellite photo from the NASA Earth Observatory collection shows extensive snow cover prevailed across parts of Colorado after storms in late January and early February. Click here to learn more about this image.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Temperatures in at least parts of Summit County ran well below average in February, while snowfall totals were near average for the month at the two official National Weather Service reporting sites in Breckenridge and Dillon.

In Breckenridge, long-time weather observer Rick Bly said he tallied 25.4 inches of snow for the month. The long-term average is 23.5 inches. The snow-water equivalent was also slightly above average, at 1.88 inches compared to 1.71 inches.

The snowfall, combined with cool temperatures, helped maintain the snowpack but didn’t make much of a dent in the seasonal deficit. For the year to-date (starting Oct. 1), snowfall is still about 30 percent below average, at 69,5 inches. The average, based on records going back to the late 1800s, is 101.5 inches. (more…)

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

Colorado: Weekend snowstorm delivers

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Mountains could see a few more inches Tuesday night

Northeast winds delivered good snow to Colorado's northeastern plains.

Northeast winds delivered good snow to Colorado’s northeastern plains.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A storm rolling across the state Saturday night delivered the goods, with every ski area in Colorado reporting new snow Sunday morning. Totals (24 hour) ranged from 11 inches at Monarch to six inches and Wolf Creek and Steamboat, at opposite ends of the state. Most resorts in between also reported about a half a foot of new snow Sunday morning. (more…)

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

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