Storm Whomps Colorado, Avy Warnings Issued

By Bob Berwyn, 12-07-07

	Caption: More than a foot of new snow has piled up on the valley floor in Summit County, Colorado, with more expected in the next few days.

A burly winter storm continues to paste the Colorado mountains with snow. As of Friday morning (Dec. 7), ski resorts around the state reported anywhere from 12 to 20 inches of snow, with on-and-off snowfall expected to continue through the weekend and into early next week.

Some 48-hour storm totals include 24 inches at Crested Butte, 16 inches at Arapahoe Basin, 18 inches at Keystone, 19 inches at Loveland and 21 inches at Winter Park. Check the Colorado Ski Country USA snow report for updated totals.

The avalanche danger is rated as high in the Front Range mountains, the Sawatch Range and the northern San Juans. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center natural releases and human-triggered slides are likely across steeper terrain, and travel in avalanche-prone areas is not recommended.

A moisture-laden westerly flow prevailed across the southern Rockies and the jet stream is forecast to sag southward a bit, increasing snowfall intensity in the southern mountains, where another 12 to 18 inches could fall through Saturday. Snowfall is expected to taper off, but not end entirely in the northern mountains.