WIND ADVISORY returns to #LaPlataCo Tuesday. Dust coming with the 45mph gusts, again...

WWUS75 KGJT 312045
NPWGJT

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
245 PM MDT MON MAR 31 2014

COZ021>023-UTZ022-027-029-010445-
/O.NEW.KGJT.WI.Y.0005.140401T1800Z-140402T0300Z/
FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-ANIMAS RIVER BASIN- SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN-SOUTHEAST UTAH-ARCHES/GRAND FLAT- CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CORTEZ...DOVE CREEK...MANCOS...
DURANGO...BAYFIELD...IGNACIO...PAGOSA SPRINGS AND VICINITY...
BLANDING...BLUFF...MEXICAN HAT...MOAB...CASTLE VALLEY...
THOMPSON SPRINGS
245 PM MDT MON MAR 31 2014

..WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT TUESDAY.

* TIMING: THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 MPH IN THE
AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* VISIBILITY: BLOWING DUST WILL LOWER VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN 3
MILES AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS: GUSTY BUFFETING WINDS WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS DRIVING
CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

PEOPLE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES... HEART DISEASE...THE ELDERLY...AND CHILDREN ARE RECOMMENDED TO STAY INDOORS AND AVOID PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERCISE OR HEAVY EXERTION DUE TO WIND-BLOWN DUST.

&&

$$

www.weather.gov/

HIGH WIND ADVISORY for Sunday. 55 MPH expected. Please don't burn!

WWUS75 KGJT 300419
NPWGJT

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1019 PM MDT SAT MAR 29 2014

COZ006-007-011-020>022-UTZ022-027-029-301230-
/O.CON.KGJT.WI.Y.0004.140330T1800Z-140331T0300Z/
GRAND VALLEY-DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR-
CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN-
PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER-
FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-
SOUTHEAST UTAH-ARCHES/GRAND FLAT-CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GRAND JUNCTION...FRUITA...PALISADE...
RIFLE...SILT...PARACHUTE...MESA...CEDAREDGE...DELTA...HOTCHKISS...
MONTROSE...GATEWAY...NUCLA...CORTEZ...DOVE CREEK...MANCOS...
DURANGO...BAYFIELD...IGNACIO...BLANDING...BLUFF...MEXICAN HAT...
MOAB...CASTLE VALLEY...THOMPSON SPRINGS
1019 PM MDT SAT MAR 29 2014

..WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY...

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY.

* TIMING: WINDS INCREASE THROUGH SUNDAY WITH THE STRONGEST GUSTS
  EXPECTED MID TO LATE AFTERNOON.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF
  45 TO 55 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

* VISIBILITY: WIDESPREAD BLOWING DUST IS EXPECTED WITH
  VISIBILITY BELOW ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS: STRONG AND GUSTY BUFFETING WINDS WILL CREATE
  HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. USE
EXTRA CAUTION.

PEOPLE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES... HEART
DISEASE...THE ELDERLY...AND CHILDREN ARE RECOMMENDED TO STAY
INDOORS AND AVOID PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERCISE OR HEAVY EXERTION
DUE TO WIND-BLOWN DUST.

&&

$$

COZ003-009-017>019-UTZ025-028-301230-
/O.CON.KGJT.WI.Y.0004.140330T1800Z-140331T0300Z/
ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-
UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE-
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
TAVAPUTS PLATEAU-LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RIO BLANCO...SKYWAY...RIDGWAY...
GLADE PARK...OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO...
HESPERUS...MONTICELLO AND VICINITY
1019 PM MDT SAT MAR 29 2014

..WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY...

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY.

* TIMING: WINDS INCREASE THROUGH SUNDAY WITH THE STRONGEST GUSTS
  EXPECTED MID TO LATE AFTERNOON.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASE TO 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS AS
  HIGH AS 70 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

* VISIBILITY: WIDESPREAD BLOWING DUST IS EXPECTED WITH
  VISIBILITY BELOW ONE MILE AT TIMES. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW
  WILL BE POSSIBLE.

* IMPACTS: STRONG AND GUSTY BUFFETING WINDS WILL CREATE
  HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. USE
EXTRA CAUTION.

PEOPLE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES... HEART
DISEASE...THE ELDERLY...AND CHILDREN ARE RECOMMENDED TO STAY
INDOORS AND AVOID PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERCISE OR HEAVY EXERTION
DUE TO WIND-BLOWN DUST.

&&

$$

www.weather.gov/

How to know if your home is in a known hazard area

La Plata County has numerous hazards that have been mapped or identified. The most commonly known is Flooding. The FEMA DFIRM maps are used to identify homes that may be inundated in a 100 Year flood event. If your home is a a flood zone and you have a mortgage than you probably know because you likely pay for flood insurance. Did you know there are maps for wildfire, geologic hazards and snow load as well?

Here is how you find your home and the known hazards

To find your property in relation to the Flood Plain:

1. Open the County Public GIS Portal
1. Direct right here: http://lpcgis.laplata.co.us/LaPlataSL/ 
2. Or navigate the County web site:
1. http://co.laplata.co.us/ 
2. then click on  
3. and look for New ArcGIS Server Map Service - 
4. Click the link to get to the GIS portal
2. Near the top, type your address into the "Search Here" box. When you start typing the numbers it should open a box with lots of addresses. Click yours and then the magnifying glass to zoom to your parcel. 
3. Look for a window just below the search box and click on the "Maps" button
4. Click on the "Custom Map Theme" and a dropdown opens with some options
1. FEMA Floodplain is your best option here
1. Red is floodway meaning highest velocities in the floodplain
2. Blue is 100 Year floodplain 
3. Yellow is 500 Year floodplain 
4. Green lines are the Base Flood Elevation or BFE. These are what FEMA calculated to be the top of water during a flood

To find your property in relation to Wildfire Hazard:

1. Go to the Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal
1.  http://www.coloradowildfirerisk.com/
2. Click on the Disclaimer and then the Public Viewer
3. On the left, use the "Getting Started" box to learn the interface and what it can do
4. Use the search function or zoom into your neighborhood
5. Play with the "Explore Map Themes" on the left to see different topics
6. At the bottom of the map themes is a brown box "Active Layer Description" and below that is a button for "Full Description" that details the different layers available. 
7. Hint: Your Insurance company likely uses a map like this to determine your home's wildfire risk!

To find your property in relation to other hazards:

1. If you already have the GIS open, skip to #4
2. Open the County Public GIS Portal
1. Direct right here: http://lpcgis.laplata.co.us/LaPlataSL/ 
2. Or navigate the County web site:
1. http://co.laplata.co.us/ 
2. then click on  
3. and look for New ArcGIS Server Map Service - 
4. Click the link to get to the GIS portal
3. Near the top, type your address into the "Search Here" box. When you start typing the numbers it should open a box with lots of addresses. Click yours and then the magnifying glass to zoom to your parcel. 
4. Look for a window just below the search box and click on the "Layers" button. When you click the button a new window opens to the left.
1. there are lots of check boxes with little triangles next to them. 
2. Click the triangle next to "Environment" and you will see:
1. Geo Hazards (rock fall, debris flow, unstable slopes, etc.)
2. K3-K4 (boundary between low and high snowfall areas)
3. Roof Snowload/Live Load (weight your roof is to be engineered for)
4. Soil Type (shows expansive soil among others)
5. Geologic Type (the underlying layer or region)
5. Click through one at a time (click the box next to the name to turn on and off) and see where your property lies. 

Be aware that some layers turn on and off depending on how far in or out you are zoomed. 

Try wikipedia for more info on geology and geo hazard types 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_geology 

The USGS has a glossary as well
http://landslides.usgs.gov/learn/glossary.php

Happy Hunting!

WIND ADVISORY issued for all LaPlata County. Heavy Dust expected and visibilities reduced.

PEOPLE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES... HEART DISEASE...THE ELDERLY...AND CHILDREN ARE RECOMMENDED TO STAY INDOORS AND AVOID PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERCISE OR HEAVY EXERTION DUE TO WIND-BLOWN DUST.

 

WWUS75 KGJT 261955

NPWGJT

 

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO

155 PM MDT WED MAR 26 2014

 

 

COZ001-002-006>008-011-020>023-270200-

/O.EXA.KGJT.WI.Y.0003.000000T0000Z-140327T0200Z/

LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN-GRAND VALLEY- DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR-CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN- CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN- PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER- FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-ANIMAS RIVER BASIN- SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RANGELY...DINOSAUR...CRAIG...HAYDEN...

MEEKER...GRAND JUNCTION...FRUITA...PALISADE...RIFLE...SILT...

PARACHUTE...MESA...GLENWOOD SPRINGS...EAGLE...CARBONDALE...

CEDAREDGE...DELTA...HOTCHKISS...MONTROSE...GATEWAY...NUCLA...

CORTEZ...DOVE CREEK...MANCOS...DURANGO...BAYFIELD...IGNACIO...

PAGOSA SPRINGS AND VICINITY

155 PM MDT WED MAR 26 2014

 

..WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING.

 

* TIMING: SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING WITH THE

  STRONGEST GUSTS EXPECTED BEFORE 7 PM MDT.

 

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST AT 25 TO 30 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS OVER 45

  MPH.

 

* VISIBILITY: MAY BE REDUCED AT TIMES TO AROUND A MILE IN BLOWING

  DUST.

 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

 

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

 

PEOPLE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES... HEART DISEASE...THE ELDERLY...AND CHILDREN ARE RECOMMENDED TO STAY INDOORS AND AVOID PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERCISE OR HEAVY EXERTION DUE TO WIND-BLOWN DUST.

 

&&

 

$$

Weather Update: High winds in northeast AZ likely to bring heavy dust to SW Colorado

High Wind and Dust Storm Warnings around Kayenta and Chinle AZ
Flagstaff National Weather Service link: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/

Here is the Arizona weather story map. Those arrows point to us

SW San Juan Mtns now under WINTER STORM WARNING 1-2 ft up high - Heavy and wet. Think safety

More heavy wet snow over two weeks of warm windy weather won't help the Deep Persistent Slab Avalanche problem. Avoid anything remotely hazardous in the backcountry until we see what this snow does. http://avalanche.state.co.us/forecasts/backcountry-avalanche/south-san-juan/

WWUS45 KGJT 260958
WSWGJT

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
358 AM MDT WED MAR 26 2014


COZ009-010-012-018-019-261800-
/O.UPG.KGJT.WS.A.0009.140327T0000Z-140328T1500Z/
/O.NEW.KGJT.WS.W.0010.140326T2100Z-140328T1500Z/
GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-
GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS- WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SKYWAY...ASPEN...VAIL...SNOWMASS...
CRESTED BUTTE...TAYLOR PARK...MARBLE...OURAY...TELLURIDE...
LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS
358 AM MDT WED MAR 26 2014

..WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
9 AM MDT FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 AM MDT FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING: SHOWERS WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD LATE THIS AFTERNOON OVER
THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS. INITIALLY THE SNOW LEVELS WILL BE OVER
THE HIGHER PEAKS...BUT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY LOWER SNOW TO
MOUNTAIN PASS LEVEL THIS AFTERNOON. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL BE
OVERNIGHT AS A COLD FRONT DROPS SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE REGION.
SOMEWHAT OF A LULL MAY APPEAR THURSDAY MORNING BEHIND THIS FIRST
SYSTEM BUT WILL INCREASE THURSDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE ENDING FRIDAY
MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION: 12 TO 18 INCHES. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS
MAINLY ABOVE 10000 FEET.

* SNOW LEVEL: INITIALLY AROUND 10000 FEET...THEN LOWERING INTO THE
VALLEYS BY LATE TONIGHT.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS 35 TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE
THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING...THEN BECOMING NORTHWEST AND
DIMINISHING BEHIND THE FRONT EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

* VISIBILITY: AT TIMES BELOW 1/2 MILE IN HEAVY SNOW AND LOCALIZED
BLOWING SNOW.

* IMPACTS: MOUNTAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WILL BE ICY AND SNOW PACKED
AT TIMES. LOCALIZED BLOWING SNOW WILL GREATLY LOWER VISIBILITY
AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

&&

$$

www.weather.gov/

WINTER STORM WATCH issued for the SW SanJuanMtns above Durango. High wind and a foot of snow coming

WWUS45 KGJT 252158
WSWGJT

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
358 PM MDT TUE MAR 25 2014


COZ009-010-012-018-019-260600-
/O.NEW.KGJT.WS.A.0009.140326T0000Z-140328T1500Z/
GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-
GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS- WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SKYWAY...ASPEN...VAIL...SNOWMASS...
CRESTED BUTTE...TAYLOR PARK...MARBLE...OURAY...TELLURIDE...
LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS
358 PM MDT TUE MAR 25 2014

..WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

* TIMING: SNOW SHOWERS WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD EARLY WEDNESDAY
EVENING...THEN CONTINUE INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. THE HEAVIEST
SNOW IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION: AROUND A FOOT OR MORE POSSIBLE.

* SNOW LEVEL: INITIALLY AROUND 9000 FEET...THEN LOWERING INTO THE
NEARBY VALLEYS BY LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS 35 TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING...THEN BECOMING NORTHWEST
AND DIMINISHING BEHIND THE FRONT LATE WEDNESDAY EVENING.

* VISIBILITY: AT TIMES BELOW 1/2 MILE IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

* IMPACTS: MOUNTAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WILL BE ICY AND SNOW
PACKED. BLOWING SNOW WILL GREATLY LOWER VISIBILITY AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND/OR BLOWING SNOW THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

&&

$$

www.weather.gov/

Who pays for Search and Rescue in La Plata County Colorado?

The quick answer is: the volunteers and the taxpayers of La Plata County.

To arrive at that quick answer, you must understand a few things:

1.       The County Sheriff, per State Statute, is responsible for search and rescue in the County. The Sheriff is also responsible for public safety, the jail, court security and wildfire, but those are separate topics.

2.       La Plata County Search and Rescue (LPCSAR) is a non-profit, self funded organization that performs search and rescue at the direction of the Sheriff

3.       Butch Knowlton, a Lieutenant with the Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Manager has been delegated by the Sheriff to direct search and rescue operations for La Plata County.

4.       The Sheriff does not receive money to perform Search and rescue. The Sheriff does have a small amount in his budget for search and rescue since state grants to LPCSAR go through him and external costs for search and rescue are paid by him.

When you are lost or hurt outside the reach of an ambulance and someone calls 911 the operators call Sheriff’s deputy of the district where you might be. That deputy decides whether to continue the interview or to research the issue (might look for your car, etc.) or the deputy may pass the call to Butch. Butch continues the interview and starts the volunteers moving if necessary.

The county office of emergency management helps to verify locations and area of interest and will often build maps and establish communications.

Then the volunteers go to work. Sometimes it’s a handful expert technical rescue personnel and sometimes it’s as many ground pounders as we can get. Sometimes we have to hire a helicopter or snowcat to help. Incidents may be over quick with only a few man (and woman)-hours and sometimes we log several hundred man-hours.

If they are volunteers, how do they pay?

With their time, energy and personal equipment on incidents, with the hundreds of hours of training and preparing, and by taking off of work or from their family to risk their well being for someone else’s. The volunteers are not compensated for their time. Wear and tear on their equipment is theirs to bear. If the rescued person has a CORSAR card, sometimes we can pay for fuel.

How do the Taxpayers of La Plata County pay?

By money in the County budget generated through taxes being dedicated to pay for outside expenses during searches. The Sheriff pays for the helicopter, the aircraft, the snowcat, the food and support for the volunteers and lost or broken equipment. The only money the Sheriff recovers is through the Colorado Outdoor Search and Rescue Fund. The hiking cards, hunting licenses and off-highway vehicle registrations pay into a fund that reimburses the Sheriff for those extra costs IF the person or their family has paid into the fund. If the sheriff can't use CORSAR ro reimburse costs, the sheriff eats the costs.

Does Search and Rescue bill for rescues?

No. Never, Not even once.

Does the Sheriff bill for rescues?

Not really, but also not never. Once in the last 35 years. Only in an extreme case of deception, was anyone ever charged in La Plata County for a rescue that turned out to be unfounded on purpose.

Does someone rescued ever have to pay?

Yes. Ambulances bill on their own for ground and air transport. The feds including USFS, BLM, BIA, BOR can charge you under the right circumstances for negligence and trespassing or other things. Private land owners could come after someone in a civil case. Ski resorts, especially those with Federal Land Leases, can recover costs.

 

Please think hard about what you do in the back country:

Be prepared, act within your limits, back out when you should, help others in need, pay into the CORSAR fund and get everyone else to (the money is obligated by statute to only go to SAR), and lastly – be thankful to the volunteers that brave the terrain and elements to help everyone come home safely.

 

CODOS Update on Large Snowpacks, Lack of Dust, Runoff Patterns http://www.codos.org/2014-updates/2014/3/17/codos-update-on-large-snowpacks

From CODOS update:

http://www.codos.org/2014-updates/2014/3/17/codos-update-on-large-snowpacks

 

SUMMARY

Given the north and northwesterly bias of this winter’s active storm track and winds, and corresponding lack of southwesterly flow, most of Colorado’s mountain watersheds have already developed well-above-average snowpacks.  The San Juan Mountains and most associated watersheds are the exception to that trend in snowcover.  The southern San Juan Mountains may also have the only snowpack containing significant dust, as of event D1, February 16.  If, in fact, the remainder of the state’s snowpack remains dust-free, then snowpack ‘ripening’, toward snow temperatures of 0° C throughout, is proceeding without the extra energy provided when desert dust contained in or near the snowpack surface absorbs solar radiation.  However, the majority of dust-on-snow events (and dust mass) logged by CODOS for Water Years 2005-2013 occurred after mid-March.  Given current snowpack conditions, and the likelihood that many Snotel sites have not yet recorded Peak SWE, even in the absence of dust-on-snow Spring 2014 snowmelt runoff is going to release large amounts of water and flooding hazards are emerging in some watersheds.   Should dust be deposited in the Colorado snowcover over the next several weeks, that dust will be positioned high within the snowcover and, in conjunction with April and May weather, influence the timing and rate of the high-volume snowmelt runoff.  That potential interaction of very high SWE, potential dust forcing, and spring weather conditions is captured within a 3x3x3 dust-enhanced snowmelt runoff behaviors “space”.  

 

Blowing Dust Advisory for much of western colorado including La Plata County 3PM to 7PM

 

 

Blowing Dust Advisory

Issued for large portions of western Colorado

Issued by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Issued at 2:45 PM Monday, March 17, 2014

 

Affected Area:  large portions of western Colorado, including Moffat, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Delta, Montrose, San Miguel, Dolores, Montezuma and southern parts of La Plata counties.  Cities include, but are not limited to Craig, Rangely, Meeker, Rifle, Grand Junction, Delta, Montrose, Nucla, Dove Creek, Cortez and Durango.

Advisory in Effect: 3:00 PM Monday 03/17/2014 to 7:00 PM Monday 03/17/2014

Public Health Recommendations: If significant blowing dust is present and reducing visibility to less than 10 miles across a wide area, People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children in the affected area should reduce prolonged or heavy indoor and outdoor exertion.

Outlook: Strong gusty winds will bring an increased threat for blowing dust on Monday to large parts of western Colorado.  Blowing dust is possible throughout the advisory area, but is most likely to be widespread for locations along and near the Utah state line. The threat for blowing dust will diminish Monday evening.

For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit:
http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

 

Social Media:

http://www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd
http://twitter.com/#!/cdpheapcd

WIND ADVISORY FOR #LAPLATACO SATURDAY - burning is not advised!

-------- Original message --------
From: Jack <kb0yyg@msn.com>
Date: 03/14/2014 15:34 (GMT-07:00)
To:
Subject: Fw: DENNPWGJT

WWUS75 KGJT 142115
NPWGJT

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
315 PM MDT FRI MAR 14 2014

COZ021-022-UTZ022-150515-
/O.NEW.KGJT.WI.Y.0001.140315T1800Z-140316T0300Z/
FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-
SOUTHEAST UTAH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CORTEZ...DOVE CREEK...MANCOS...
DURANGO...BAYFIELD...IGNACIO...BLANDING...BLUFF...MEXICAN HAT
315 PM MDT FRI MAR 14 2014

..WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SATURDAY.

* TIMING: WIND WILL INCREASE TOWARD MORNING WITH THE APPROACH OF
  A COLD FRONT FROM THE NORTH.

* WINDS: NORTHWEST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 45 MPH
  BECOMING NORTH IN THE LATE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS: LOCALIZED BLOWING DUST MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. USE
EXTRA CAUTION.

PEOPLE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES... HEART
DISEASE...THE ELDERLY...AND CHILDREN ARE RECOMMENDED TO STAY
INDOORS AND AVOID PROLONGED OUTDOOR EXERCISE OR HEAVY EXERTION
DUE TO WIND-BLOWN DUST.

&&

$$







www.weather.gov/

Despite warning, people are injured by all types of extreme weather. #COPrepare before #Cowx hits! #BeaForce http://bit.ly/1fjJNtu