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So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:48 pm
by Dancesatmoonrise
Anyone have any reports for snow totals/conditions around the state?

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:15 pm
by d_baker
CAIC's statewide forecast (taken from their site):

Highlights

The first major winter storm of the season hit Colorado on Friday and Saturday. Areas favored with snowfall from southwesterly flow did best from this storm. Wolf Creek Pass reported 19" of snow from the storm. Outside of Crested Butte 17" of snow from the storm, and along the Highway 550 corridor in the San Juans from 7.5" to 12.5" of snow was reported at historical snow stakes. Reports indicated significantly more wind drifted snow in wind loaded areas from all these areas. Strong winds accompanied the storm, and as you can expect, a number of avalanches were reported. We've received great observations today. You can use the Observations>Observation Reports>Weather Stations page to track the snowfall through the day at your favorite weather stations.

We all anticipated snowfall with this storm, and folks got out into avalanche terrain. It is easy to discount the avalanche potential when there is just a few feet of drifted snow, with grass and flower stalks poking through. Do not get lulled into a sense of complacency. It is time to start thinking about avalanches. Is your avalanche rescue gear ready, and is your brain ready? Some early season reminders from Montana, and in Colorado: Jones Pass, Mt Baldy.

If you're out there exploring the early season snowpack, please let us know what you are seeing.
Twitter 5:46 PM by Scott Toepfer: check out this storm slab triggered by a ski pole. https://vimeo.com/53267011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Weather Discussion

The recent storm is moving east and is followed by much colder air. Winds have drifted significant snow into avalanche starting zones. With the cold temperatures expected, instabilities will linger for some time. There are only some weak weather disturbances expected for the early part of the coming week, with little new snow expected until later this coming week. Cold temperatures will slowly ease, but at this time of year, cold equals sugar snow development.

Stay tuned to CAIC Weather Forecasts that are updated twice daily. Computer Model Forecasts are updated continuously. If you are going into the Colorado high country use our Weather Stations by Zone page to check current conditions.
Snowpack & Avalanche Discussion

Avalanche season is upon us. If you haven't been thinking about avalanches and terrain consequences you should now.

The first major winter storm of the season arrived Friday and Saturday. Dense snowfall and strong winds "shellacked" the high country of the San Juan Mountains, Elk Range, Grand Mesa and the Rabbit Ears Pass area. Human triggered avalanches were reported in the Red Mountain Pass area outside Silverton, from the Elk Range outside Crested Butte, and the west side of the Vail/Summit County zone. Most of these slides were not large, but some were big enough to produce serious injury if not worse.

The recent storm was a good snow producer for many areas. The old snow underneath the new storm snow has had plenty of chances to weaken. Even though valley floor temperatures have seemed warm, nights are long, temperatures have dropped well below freezing, and the old snow has become quite weak. In some cases a melt freeze crust has formed at the old snow surface. These are all bad things, and could haunt us well into the coming winter.

It is not unusual for avalanche incidents and fatalities to make headlines in our state long before most of us are thinking about the consequences of an early season encounter. Avalanche accidents have occurred in Colorado every month of the year. Avalanches in the early season are less frequent than in mid-winter, but they are possible once snow begins to accumulate. This means that you need to start thinking avalanche again as fall snows begin to accumulate. As the first significant winter storm rolls past Colorado, make sure your gear and your brain are ready. Replace the batteries in your beacon.

The CAIC has begun to monitor the 2012-2013 snowpack. It should come as no surprise that once snow begins to accumulate, avalanches, both natural and triggered, can be expected. It is common for us to see reports of people caught in November avalanches every year. An early season encounter with an avalanche will often come with a ride through rocks, downed timber, stumps and other obstacles which can quickly bring an end to your riding season. Always think of what consequences are possible if you were to get caught and take a ride in an avalanche.

Until daily public forecasts begin, here are a few things to think about as the winter snowpack develops.

° Fall and a taste of winter have visited Colorado’s high country. Snow began to stick on the higher terrain by mid-September. Every season people have encounters with wintertime slab avalanches as early as August or September. Anyone traveling in the mountains, including hikers, hunters, sledders, skiers, riders and ice climbers, needs to be aware of the avalanche threat as soon as snow starts to accumulate on steep slopes.

° People are often misled when they see grass and brush sticking out of the snow surface. You should start thinking about avalanches any time you have snow resting on a steep slope. Remember, all you need is a slab resting on a weak layer of snow. The ground can easily act as a bed surface, even if it’s only a few inches below the snow surface.

° Old summer snow fields can act as the perfect bed surface too. Hard frozen old snow with new snow on top are common culprits in early season avalanche incidents.

° Early in the snow season there is not much snow on the ground. This means that rocks and stumps are near the snow surface. If you get caught in an avalanche you might get tumbled through rocks, stumps, and downed timber. These obstacles can do great bodily harm to backcountry users traveling through them at high speeds. Knee pads, helmets and full body armor may not be a solution to this problem. Even a very small slide can cause great harm if the terrain is unfriendly.Don't let an early-season injury ruin your winter!

° Wind drifts will create thicker slabs. Strong winds can take a three inch snowstorm and quickly build an 18” wind slab. Areas with shallow snow may be very close to deep drifted areas. It may be quite easy to move from a very safe area to a very dangerous area without traveling very far. Wind drifts will be denser than the new snow and thick hard snow on light fluffy snow is a great setup for avalanching.

° Once the sun returns after a storm cycle and warm temperatures cause the new snow to melt, look to see where the pockets of snow remain. The snow that lingers in sheltered areas and shady slopes could be the weak layer after the next snowfall. These areas could also become recurring problem areas throughout the winter depending on how the winter snowpack develops.

° Pockets of instability can develop quickly above early season ice climbs. Climbers should know the terrain above their route as rapid warming or heavy wind loading can quickly work to build slab or loose snow avalanches which can nudge a precariously perched climber into a bad fall.

° Hunters traveling across the high country need to exercise greater caution on steep terrain (steeper than 30 degrees with accumulated snow) when crossing ridges from one valley to another.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 9:22 am
by SeracZack
Friday when I was in Telluride, the snow had just started to fall when I was leaving.

Summit County areas seemed to get around 4" to 8" depending on the areas from where I was. That's all the more info I can provide.

d_baker, thanks for sharing that.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 9:40 am
by TaylorHolt
Copper Mountain reported a new 6 inches on Saturday and 2 more inches on Sunday.

Good reminder that it's time to start paying attention to avy forecasts and conditions.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:11 am
by ajkagy
about 5" at crested butte ski area, close to 20" up on kebler pass and schofield pass.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 11:55 am
by TravelingMatt
SeracZack wrote:Summit County areas seemed to get around 4" to 8" depending on the areas from where I was. That's all the more info I can provide.
Closer to the former than the latter around Lake Dillon. Sunshine today, so it's melting off.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 3:58 pm
by ktimm
I was on the edge of Sopris and there was a lot of snow. Saturday most areas were mid shin level, Sunday most areas were knee deep, sometimes mid thigh, windblown areas a bit less. It was coming down all day yesterday as well.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:01 am
by ajkagy
ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/CO/Snow/s ... tate13.gif" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

snowpack looking pretty weak right now...if it stays pretty dry the rest of NOV it will be pretty hard to catch up to normal and may be worse than last year.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:02 am
by geojed
ajkagy wrote:ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/CO/Snow/s ... tate13.gif

snowpack looking pretty weak right now...if it stays pretty dry the rest of NOV it will be pretty hard to catch up to normal and may be worse than last year.
Their most current graphs are for data as of Nov 8 which is prior to the most recent storm. Some areas will improve significantly but others not so much.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:15 am
by lodidodi
ahhh 2011

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:51 am
by ajkagy
geojed wrote:
ajkagy wrote:ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/CO/Snow/s ... tate13.gif

snowpack looking pretty weak right now...if it stays pretty dry the rest of NOV it will be pretty hard to catch up to normal and may be worse than last year.
Their most current graphs are for data as of Nov 8 which is prior to the most recent storm. Some areas will improve significantly but others not so much.
yea, this is before the recent storm, which was good for the san juans/elks. I'm wondering how much this will affect the graph.

Re: So... snow totals for the weekend?

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:16 pm
by MuchosPixels
ajkagy wrote:
geojed wrote:
ajkagy wrote:ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/CO/Snow/s ... tate13.gif

snowpack looking pretty weak right now...if it stays pretty dry the rest of NOV it will be pretty hard to catch up to normal and may be worse than last year.
Their most current graphs are for data as of Nov 8 which is prior to the most recent storm. Some areas will improve significantly but others not so much.
yea, this is before the recent storm, which was good for the san juans/elks. I'm wondering how much this will affect the graph.


I think most areas received less than 1in SnowWater Equiv. Some got a LOT less than 1in and a very few got more. Its bad. And the next 2 weeks dont look great. Pray for Snow!