Vail Resort / Snow Report for 4/21/2013
6'' in last 24 hrs
39° F
CAIC Avalanche Advisory (Summit)
Backcountry Avalanche Forecast for Vail & Summit County
Issued 05/11/2013 7:01 AM
Avalanche Danger
A ridge of high pressure was strengthening to the west of Colorado Friday afternoon. Northeasterly flow along the eastern edge of the ridge and a weak disturbance dropping through the flow fired off short lived convective showers Friday afternoon. The recent snowfall would be a distant memory by Saturday morning except for a fair amount of evidence of recent storm induced avalanche activity. The largest slide noted so far is in '4th of July Bowl' on Peak 10 above Breckenridge. This is on a north aspect, 2 to 3 feet deep, 200 feet wide and 650 vertical. This may have been human triggered, there is a traverse line leading into or out of the eastern flank of the slab. This path loaded from the southeast winds on Thursday. Similar north aspect slopes should be suspect for similar activity.
Weather Discusion
The recent storm is moving east and a strengthening ridge of high pressure is developing to the west of Colorado. A northeasterly flow along the east side of the ridge saw a weak disturbance trundle through the state on Friday, which helped fire off some short lived convective snow showers across the state. A similar pattern looks to develop again on Saturday, though there is less moisture to work with, so the convective activity looks to be a little less wide spread, and more short lived. At best an inch of new snow might result from these hit and miss storms.
By Sunday the high pressure ridge to our west will gain control and backcountry riders can expect warmer and dryer conditions into at least Monday. Given the spring season though, isolated afternoon spring showers are possible both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
CAIC Weather Forecasts have stopped for the season. 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.
Temp: Red Line
Wind: Light Gray Area
Wind Gust: Light Blue Area
Wind Dir: Orange Circles
Temp: 57º F
Wind Dir: NE
Wind Spd: 9 - 11, gusting to 18
Temp: Red Line
Wind: Light Gray Area
Wind Gust: Light Blue Area
Wind Dir: Orange Circles
