During the winter of 1991-92, a Campbell Scientific weather station provided important avalanche forecasting information for the Ten Mile Canyon area in Colorado. Workers planned to bury a fiber-optic cable in the canyon and would be exposed to avalanche danger in many locations along the route. The weather station, located near the summit of Ten Mile Peak, reported weather conditions via radio telemetry. Each morning avalanche forecasters helped coordinate work activities so that dangerous areas could be avoided.

Case Study Summary

Application

Weather station placed atop mountain peak to monitor avalanche danger

Location

Ten Mile Canyon, Colorado, USA

Contributors

Chuck Tolton

Participating Organizations

USWest, US Forest Service, GasWest, Summit County Commissioners

Measured Parameters

Wind speed, wind direction, snow conditions