Good News: There is lots of new snow on the slopes and more coming. Bad News: Avalanche danger is increasing

Backcountry avalanche conditions are dangerous in the mountains of Colorado. A winter storm running from January 28 through February 1 added very large amounts of new snow across the state. The avalanche danger will slowly ease through the weekend, but the snowpack remains at a precarious balance, waiting for a trigger like a skier, snowmobiler, snowboarder, or snowshoer. Backcountry travelers will easily trigger avalanches large enough to bury or kill a person. Some avalanches may break into older snow near or at the ground, and become very large and destructive.

Avalanches may be triggered from a distance or the bottom of a slope. Multiple people could cross a slope before it avalanches. Safe backcountry travel will require conservative decision-making and careful route finding to avoid avalanche terrain.

http://avalanche.state.co.us/

 

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO

340 AM MST MON FEB 3 2014

 

COZ009-013-018-019-031900-

/O.CON.KGJT.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-140205T0600Z/

GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-FLATTOPS-NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-

SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SKYWAY...BUFORD...TRAPPERS LAKE...

OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS

340 AM MST MON FEB 3 2014

 

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST

TUESDAY...

 

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST TUESDAY.

 

* TIMING: SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING WITH OCCASIONAL SNOW CONTINUING

  THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

 

* SNOW ACCUMULATION: TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 15 INCHES WITH

  THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS ABOVE 9000 FEET ON SOUTH AND WEST FACING SLOPES.

 

* WINDS: LOCAL GUSTS TO 25 MPH WILL OCCUR...PRIMARILY ABOVE

  TIMBERLINE OR EXPOSED AREAS.

 

* VISIBILITY: BELOW 1 MILE AT TIMES IN MODERATE SNOW AND FOG.

 

* IMPACTS: SNOW PACKED OR ICY ROADS AND POOR VISIBILITIES WILL

  MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS.

 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

 

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE

EXPECTED. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

 

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/wxstory.php?site=gjt

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.60672952281056&lon=-107.85316466353834#.Uu_BzPmXY4U