Mountain Weather

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 01/20/2016

We are waking up to steady snow from our latest disturbance affecting the area today. Lower elevations may see snow taper off midday, before good orographics and cold air advection from -30ºC cold air aloft, and a fast moving jet stream redevelop snow this evening in northwest flow, wringing out every possible flake over the higher peaks. The fast moving jet stream will increase WNW winds into sunset, with some 50mph gusts at higher elevations. A strong northerly flow shifts over the state and cold temperatures return for Thursday and Friday.

CBAC Snodgrass Study Plot Snowpit

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations, Snow Profiles

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/19/2016
Name: Jimmy Buchanan
Subject: CBAC Snodgrass Study Plot Snowpit
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 9,800′

Avalanches: None.
Weather: See profile.
Snowpack: See profile.

Snodgrass-Jan.-19

Pittsburg area

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Paradise Divide Area
Date of Observation: 01/18/2016
Name: Daniela Runge
Subject: Pittsburg area
Aspect: South
Elevation: 9000

Avalanches: Between Pittsburg before camo glades. Occurred between 11-1:30. Soft slab. Class 2. South facing. Maybe 40 ish feet across? Ran maybe 80 feet?
Weather: Mostly sunny, 25 degrees.
Snowpack: Fresh snow.

20160119SlateRIveravalancheIMG_1359

Mountain Weather

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 01/19/2016

Our system that moved in quickly yesterday around sunset will exit the region today, with only a few hours of clearing before yet another weaker disturbance rolls into the Elk Mountains this afternoon and evening, along with increases in westerly winds. If you like snow, the model confidence is high that the active pattern continues with yet another system through mid week, and another series of storms looking to line up again toward the weekend and early next week.

Kebler Pass Area avalanches

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/18/2016
Name: Evan Ross
Subject: Kebler Pass Area avalanches
Aspect:
Elevation:

Avalanches: 1 natural slab avalanche released around 2pm on a cross loaded southwest terrain feature, WS-N-R2-D2-U. Observed another wind slab avalanche on a SE terrain feature near tree line at about 11,300ft. R1-D1.5 that may have released naturally in the afternoon for been remote triggered around the same time, by a snowmobile track a few hundred feet away.

Observed nummeres other slab avalanches in the Ruby Range and north the to the Maroon Bells Wilderness, mostly on southeast to east to northeast facing wind loaded slopes. These were generally in the R2-D2 range and would have failed during the tail in of our recent storm or today. Some of these avalanches were repeat offenders, avalanching on the same slopes that avalanche during the Christmas cycle.
Weather: Partly Cloudy Sky and strong enough sun to moisten snow surfaces on southerly slopes protected from wind. West to southwest winds direction in our area was drifting snow throughout the day onto lee terrain features. Snow plumes could also be seen in the Anthracite Range, Ruby Rang, Crested Butte Area and bordering Maroon Bells Wilderness throughout the day.
Snowpack:

IMG_1257

One very large slab, estimated as R3-D2.5 and another smaller slab on the right of the photo. Both in the Ruby Range above the upper OB Joyful drainage.

Blowing snow throughout the day, all the way north to the bordering Maroon Bells Wilderness

Several D1.5-D2 slabs below Scarps Ridge on wind loaded northeast terrain

Several repeat offender slabs that failed during our recent storm on slopes that also avalanched during the Christmas cycle

IMG_1269

R1-D1 wind slab that released naturally on 1/18 or was remote triggered by a snowmobile track a few hundred feet away.

1/18 Large Natural off S aspect of Schuylkill Ridge

1/18 around 2 pm, Large Natural in cross loaded SW terrain of Schuylkill Ridge.

Skier triggered windslab at East River

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/17/2016
Name: Kyle
Subject: Skier triggered windslab at East River
Aspect: East
Elevation: 9500

Avalanches: R1-D1, skier triggered, 20-30cm X 30m crown
Weather: Mostly cloudy with a 15mph west wind with gusts up to 30mph
Snowpack:

IMG_0050
IMG_0049

Snodgrass Tour

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/18/2016
Name: Cam Smith
Subject: Snodgrass Tour
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 9,400-11,100

Avalanches:
Weather: Sunny after 10 a.m. Mild temps in the 20’s.
Snowpack: 130cm HS on a shaded NE aspect near treeline. In that spot found around 20cm of new/deposited snow over a hard crust (wind crust?). Sluffs up higher in the trees. Shooting cracks under the first skier once we got into the open.

Slate River Avalanches

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Paradise Divide Area
Date of Observation: 01/18/2016
Name: Ryan Hoynacki
Subject: Slate River Avalanches
Aspect: North East, South East, South
Elevation:

Avalanches: Observed 3 avalanches in the Slate River drainage today. Climax chutes, north east aspect, 11000, loose dry snow, 50 ft wide, ran 200 feet. Augusta Mtn, south east, 12500, wind slab, 500 feet wide below ridge top , could not observe length, foot deep crown. Lower Purple Mtn ridge line, south, 10500, loose wet snow in shallow pack, ran @ noonish, 40 ft wide, 150 ft long, debris ran over road.
Weather: Calm, occasional gusts, 25 degrees, sun was strong when not blocked by clouds.
Snowpack:

Naturals on Mt. Emmons

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/18/2016
Name: Zach Guy
Subject: Naturals on Mt. Emmons
Aspect: North, East, South East, South
Elevation: 9,500-12,300 ft

Avalanches: Numerous natural slab avalanches on windloaded terrain, E to SE to S that failed during the tail end of the storm.  Observed 7 natural soft slabs on SE and E aspects NTL/ATL in Evans Basin and Red Lady Bowl, ~D1 to D1.5 in size, failing near or above the storm interface. SS-N-R1-D1.5-U. One larger natural on a S aspect of Schuylkill Ridge that ran 1,500 vertical feet to the valley, SS-N-R2-D2-U. We skier triggered 2 small windslabs from a SE facing ridgeline above treeline that failed 5-10″ deep on a mid-storm layer. SS-ASc-R1-D1-S.
Weather: Few clouds. Mild temps. Winds increased during the day from the W to NW. Moderate snow transport in the afternoon at ridgelines.
Snowpack:  See video. 10″ of fist hard storm snow settled quickly today under sunny skies and mild temps.  It became moist on steep, southerly aspects below treeline, with pushy wet loose running under foot.  In wind/sun sheltered terrain, the new snow is over 1-2 mm fist hard facets, unreactive in stability tests.  On a more wind-affected north facing slope near treeline, the 12″ of new snow was over 4F mixed forms, <1mm.  Most windloading appears to be on S, SE, and E aspects N/ATL.  No signs of instability on steep north facing terrain.

1/18 Naturals off of SE aspect of Evans Basin

1/18 Naturals off of SE aspect of Evans Basin

IMG_5546

1/18 Pushy wet loose below treeline, south aspect

1/18 Large Natural off S aspect of Schuylkill Ridge

1/18 Large Natural off S aspect of Schuylkill Ridge

1/18 Skier triggered windlab into Red Lady Bowl. SE aspect

1/18 Skier triggered windlab into Red Lady Bowl. SE aspect

1/18 Skier triggered windlab into Red Lady Bowl. SE aspect

1/18 Skier triggered windlab into Red Lady Bowl. SE aspect

1/18. Natural on east aspect

1/18. Natural on east aspect

1/18 Faint windslab visible on Red Lady

1/18 Faint windslab visible on Red Lady

 

Road tour Hwy 135

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/18/2016
Name: Zach Guy
Subject: Road tour Hwy 135
Aspect:
Elevation: Views from valley bottom

Avalanches: Large natural soft slabs off of Oh-Be-Joyful (SE ATL), Augusta (SE ATL), Baldy (E ATL), Coon Basin (SE ATL), and a smaller one on Whetstone (E ATL). All looked to have failed at or above the storm interface; nothing broke deeper. Crowns estimated 150 to 400 ft wide. SS-N-R1/2-D2-U. A lot of the old bedsurfaces on shaded aspects below treeline along Whetstone and near town sluffed naturally, entraining older facets, small in size. L-N-R1-D1-O
Weather: Plumes off of peaks in northeast corner of our zone. Elsewhere transport was minimal this morning.
Snowpack: