Mountain Weather for 11,000ft

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 02/07/2019

The trough axis of yesterdays storm passed to the east of the area last night, but WNW flow has set up with decent moisture which will keep light snow falling in the snow favored locations from Kebler Pass to Schofield Pass. Temperatures are cold this morning and will struggle to make it into double digits today. WNW winds will be on the increase today and will drift the recent snow. Residual moisture on the backside of the last system will dry out by tonight and a weak ridge will build for Friday and Saturday. Do not worry though, another snowy period will begin sometime Saturday night and last into the first part of next week but details of this system are still a bit blurry.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 6 to 11
    Winds/Direction: 13 to 23, WNW
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
    Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: -10 to -5
    Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, W
    Sky Cover: Partly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 19 to 24
    Winds/Direction: 7 to 17, SW
    Sky Cover: Mostly Clear
    Irwin Snow: 0
    Elkton Snow: 0
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0

Snodgrass tour & remote trigger

CB Avalanche Center2018-19 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 02/06/2019
Name: Dave Bumgarner

Subject: Snodgrass tour & remote trigger
Aspect: North East, South East
Elevation: 9,600 – 10,8000

Avalanches:

We had some whumphs & shooting cracks, Remotely triggered two slides on a SE aspect (photos attached).

Weather: LOCATION: Snodgrass Southern side (NE/E aspect)

ELEVATION: 9,600 – 10,8000

ASPECT: North East/ East

WEATHER: High around mid 20s, Overcast most of the day, Light wind bellow tree line. Precip S1 till around 1300

SNOWPACK/AVALANCHE OBS: HS ranges from 125 to 155 cm. Moderate results on two quick CT tests. We had some whumphs, Remotely triggered two slides on a SE aspect (photos attached).

Snowpack: SNOWPACK/AVALANCHE OBS: HS ranges from 125 to 155 cm. Moderate results on two quick CT tests.
Photos:

Anthracites storm instabilities

CB Avalanche Center2018-19 Observations

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 02/06/2019
Name: MR

Subject: Anthracites storm instabilities
Aspect: North, North East
Elevation:

Avalanches:

Sluffs running far and wide, almost full track in rock, half track in tree, full track in big. Remote triggered baby bowl while skiing rock. All just the new snow.

Weather: Snowing S3, maybe harder at times. Surprisingly little evidence of overnight wind transport. Gusty at times, at times very calm. 8-12 inches new snow

Snowpack:
Photos:

Mount Emmons

CB Avalanche Center2018-19 Observations

Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 02/06/2019
Name: TC

Subject: Mount Emmons
Aspect: South East, South
Elevation: 9,400-12,000

Avalanches:

Poor visibility, so none observed. Expecting a large natural cycle given the snow accumulation and high winds.

Weather: Snowing hard at times. Little to know wind at the trailhead and in the trees, but strong and steady (30+ mph) southwest winds near and above tree-line. Very limited visibility.

Snowpack: New snow in the 15-20 cm range being quickly blown into reactive soft slabs. Unusually large and sensitive cornices on the ridge near tree-line; kicked off a couple of the bigger ones with no reaction on the northeast facing slopes other than sloughing in the new snow. Below tree-line in the glades, the soft storm snow was resting on a firm sun crust in the more open terrain; the crust was less apparent lower down in the aspens.
Photos:

Mountain Weather for 11,000ft

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 02/06/2019

The large scale low-pressure system we have been talking about the past few days is set to arrive today. Widespread snowfall has already begun early this morning. Latest model runs have backed off on total precipitation from yesterday. This still looks to be a productive system with most parts of the forecast area picking up a healthy hit of snow during the day under SW flow and as the trough axis passes overhead, the flow will shift W and NW which will keep the snow production going for the snow favored areas along the spine of the Ruby Range. Snow totals by Thursday morning look to be from 6 to 12 inches. Cold air will slide into place after this system passes on Wednesday night and Thursday. Friday is looking dry at the moment before a quick hitting system on Saturday.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 15 to 20
    Winds/Direction: 14 to 24, WSW
    Sky Cover: Overcast
    Irwin Snow: 5 to 8″
    Elkton Snow: 5 to 8″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 3 to 5″

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: -5 to 0
    Winds/Direction: 7 to 17, WNW
    Sky Cover: Overcast
    Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
    Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 7 to 12
    Winds/Direction: 8 to 18, W
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 1 to 3″
    Elkton Snow: 1 to 3″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″

Its piling up

CB Avalanche Center2018-19 Observations

Location: Paradise Divide Area
Date of Observation: 02/05/2019
Name: Eric Murrow & Zach Kinler

Subject: Its piling up
Aspect: North, North East, North West
Elevation: 9,200-10,600

Avalanches:

Visibility was limited during day but got a few partial glimpses around higher elevation terrain and did not see any fresh signs of avalanches.

Weather: Winds were moderate with strong gusts at below treeline location. Decent drifts forming on road at valley bottom. Vis was so so for most of the day, but loading observed on open terrain. Precip consistent from 1030 to 3 but very light, accumulations less than an inch (rimed PP and graupel).

Snowpack: New snow accumulations (since Sunday night) at 1pm – 10600′ 33cm with 1.8″SWE, HS in this area around 225cm. Dug a test profile in this area down to below the 1/15 interface. Easy clean sheers in the middle of the new snow. ECTP13 on the new/old interface (2/2) on a thin layer of 1mm facets down 35cm at this location. No results on the 1/15 interface, even when hammering after standard tests. Did not dig to ground but Holiday slab and 1/16&1/18 slab mostly pencil hard. Skinning and stomping on tiny test slopes produced cracks up to a ski length within the storm snow.

Photos:

Mountain Weather for 11,000ft

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 02/05/2019

A large low-pressure system is currently near the Nevada/California border and pushing a healthy stream of moisture out it front into the Crested Butte area. This system already has modest snow production going in our neighborhood and will continue to produce light snowfall through the daylight hours on Tuesday. The bulk of the energy arrives late tonight and tomorrow morning with significant accumulations expected through Wednesday night. Snowfall totals are tentatively looking to be around 12+ inches across much of the forecast area with locally higher amounts.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 22-27
    Winds/Direction: 17-27, G40 SW
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 2 to 4″
    Elkton Snow: 2 to 4″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 4″

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: 8 to 13
    Winds/Direction: 17 to 27, SW
    Sky Cover: Overcast
    Irwin Snow: 5 to 8″
    Elkton Snow: 5 to 8″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 5 to 8″

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 13 to 18
    Winds/Direction: 10 to 20, WSW
    Sky Cover: Overcast
    Irwin Snow: 4 to 7″
    Elkton Snow: 4 to 7″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 5″

Stubborn but reactive winddlabs

CB Avalanche Center2018-19 Observations

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 02/04/2019
Name: Sam lesnikoski

Subject: Stubborn but reactive winddlabs
Aspect: North East
Elevation: Near treeline

Avalanches:

Skier triggered an r1 d1 wind slab on second lap. Ski cut same slope before with no result though snow was noticeably stiff underfoot. On second lap the first rider triggered the slide that broke above them but was able to pull out with out issue. Only wind loaded storm snow ran, it went on near surface facets.

Weather: Graybird with building clouds, steady wind at tree line

Snowpack: Dense storm snow, some minor sluffing on steeper pitches, some cracking with very small propagation after stomping on wind loaded knolls.

Photos:

Mountain Weather for 11,000ft

CB Avalanche CenterWeather

Date: 02/04/2019

For today expect a moist SW flow to continue to bring light snowfall to the Crested Butte area. Accumulations during daylight hours will be amount to just a couple of inches at best as production will come mainly from orographic lift. Tonight’s weather looks to be a bit more unpredictable as a shortwave system passes through the area. For tonight, weather models suggest that another 3 to 6 inches is possible after sunset with locally higher amounts in snow favored location down the spine of the Ruby Range. Snowfall will linger during the day on Tuesday as well The next significant storm continues to make its way towards Crested Butte and is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

  • Today

    High Temperature: 28 to 33
    Winds/Direction: 12 to 22, SW
    Sky Cover: Mostly Cloudy
    Irwin Snow: 0 to 2
    Elkton Snow: 0 to 2
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 0 to 2

  • Tonight

    Low Temperature: 13 to 18
    Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, SW
    Sky Cover: Overcast
    Irwin Snow: 3 to 6″
    Elkton Snow: 3 to 6″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 2 to 5″

  • Tomorrow

    High Temperature: 24 to 29
    Winds/Direction: 15 to 25, SW
    Sky Cover: Overcast
    Irwin Snow: 1 to 3″
    Elkton Snow: 1 to 3″
    Friend’s Hut Snow: 1 to 3″