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Avalanche risk considerable as snow subsides

Photo by STEVE LEWIS/Herald

Gordon Lee, a mechanic with CRG Excavation, replaces a hub on a belly-dump trailer that is supporting the collapsed roof of a building Monday morning in Bayfield. The building, located at U.S Highway 160B and Community Lane, is the third structure where the roof has collapsed under the weight of snow. “There was substantial collapse but no injuries,” said Randy Larson, deputy chief of operations with the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District.

Photo by JERRY McBRIDE/Herald

A few inches of fresh snow doesn’t stop Chris Schell from running with his dogs Rosco and Sienna in Durango on Monday morning. The National Weather Service expects a slight chance of snow in the next few days.

La Plata County residents may have time to rest their weary backs after a winter of nonstop shoveling as only limited snowfall is predicted for the next week, but the avalanche risk is considerable in the backcountry.

The biggest impact of the recent storm may have been on avalanche conditions. The Colorado Avalanche Center is forecasting considerable avalanche risk in both the north and south San Juan Mountains.

“New snow will create some tender conditions," the forecast said about the south San Juans. “Approach steep slopes with caution."

The north San Juans' prediction said recent snowfall may slide easily on steep slopes at or above timberline.

“Watch for increasing avalanche activity with periods of sunshine," the center said.

While the weather forecast is showing a slight chance for snow continuing through Wednesday night in Southwest Colorado, the National Weather Service says there probably will not be much accumulation.

“You guys are almost done in terms of big accumulation," meteorologist Paul Frisbie with the Grand Junction office of the weather service said. “It looks like west Colorado, including Southwest Colorado, is not going to be completely dry. But we're not looking for any big systems to come through."

After the third week in January, when Durango got more than 3 feet of snow, this most recent storm brought in only 10½ inches of the white stuff, according to local weather observer Briggen Wrinkle.

Wolf Creek Ski Area was the big winner, reporting 14 inches from the storm, with 107 inches at midway. Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort received 9 inches in the last storm, with 62 inches at midway, and Silverton Mountain got 10 inches with 90 inches at the base.

The recent storm brings the snowpack level in the San Juan Mountains to 105 percent of average, Frisbie said.

As of 8 p.m. Monday, the Colorado Department of Transportation was reporting icy spots on Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain passes,  and icy spots, scattered showers and wet conditions on Wolf Creek Pass. No restrictions had been declared.

A few weeks ago, the National Weather Service said the El Niño conditions that are prevailing now may mean several more months with above-average precipitation. That still is the long-term forecast.

“At this time, that still holds true," Frisbie said. “We're looking at wetter-than-average weather through the spring."

abutler@durangoherald.com