Latest news with #Avalanche.State.Co.us
CBS News
18-04-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Experts warn of increased avalanche risk as spring snowstorm rolls into Colorado
After a warm week, Thursday ushers in the return of cooler, stormier weather . Currently, most Colorado mountains are at low (1 of 5) danger, but with new snowfall we could see enough snow to drive instability, increasing avalanche danger through Saturday. The warmer temperatures this week have increased wet avalanche activity. Below an image from the Crested Butte Avalanche Center illustrates this type of avalanche activity. On Sunday afternoon and into next week warm weather is expected to return. As we see warmer temperatures wet avalanche is expected to increase heading into next week. "The snowpack doesn't like rapid change. So when you're in the backcountry this time of year, make sure you're reading the forecast and staying alert to changing conditions," said Brian Lazar the Deputy Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Anyone traveling in the backcountry should always carry proper safety gear, including an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use those tools. Daily avalanche forecasts can be found at
CBS News
21-03-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
New snow and strong winds increase avalanche danger across Colorado
Another storm is moving into the high country this weekend, increasing concern for avalanches. Experts warn that more snow and wind has created widespread considerable avalanche danger across most of the sate with the southeast mountains sitting at moderate danger. This photo, shared by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), shows the type of avalanches the CAIC is worried about with new snow moving in. Ski, snowboard, and snowmobile-triggered avalanches are happening on steeper slopes drifted by winds. Wind loaded, rocky areas will be the most dangerous slopes heading into the weekend. The wind and the snow are not the only problem. You can see on this snowpack profile taken near Sunlight Ski Resort, there are weak lower layers. The main concern, is any avalanche that happens in the newly wind drifted snow could potential break into some of the deeper weak layers closer to the ground leading to very large avalanches that experts warn would be difficult to survive. Anyone traveling in the backcountry should always carry proper safety gear, including an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use those tools. Daily avalanche forecasts can be found at
CBS News
14-03-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Colorado avalanche risk low to moderate, expected to increase with coming storm
Another strong storm is moving into the high country just in time for the weekend, increasing concern for avalanches on Friday and Saturday. With less active weather the last week, the number of avalanches each day has dropped, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center's Brian Lazar. But with more snow and wind expected, experts warn that the low to moderate risk will likely not last long. This photo, shared by the CAIC, shows the type of avalanches the CAIC is worried about with new snow moving in. Ski, snowboard, and snowmobile-triggered avalanches are happening on steeper slopes drifted by winds. Rocky, steep, shady, shallow slopes will be the most dangerous. Wind in the high country will be strong, which adds to the threat of avalanches going into the weekend. The area of most concern is the Flat Top Mountains, where danger is at a Moderate level (2 out of 5). The Central and Northern mountains are also under a Moderate danger for avalanches. All other mountain areas are under a low danger (1 out of 5). Anyone traveling in the backcountry should always carry proper safety gear, including an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use those tools. Daily avalanche forecasts can be found at
CBS News
28-02-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
500 reported avalanches in February across Colorado with considerable danger going into the weekend
According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, in the last week there have been 185 avalanches reported across the state, with 500 reported avalanches so far in February. Most of the northern and central mountains are at considerable avalanche danger (level 3 of 5) heading into the weekend. "Even though the chance of triggering an avalanche is slowly declining, the size and the consequence of these avalanches is what is keeping these avalanche dangers elevated," said Brain Lazar, Deputy Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. According to the CAIC, most mountain areas in Colorado have had avalanche activity in the last week due to the warmer weather and a series of large storms has created unstable conditions. To add to the dangerous conditions, Lazar says many signs of instability like big shooting cracks or rumbling collapses are disappearing. "That makes it a little bit scary to move around the mountain right now because you might not see any signs of instability before you trigger a very large and deadly avalanche," he said. February is historically the most dangerous month for avalanche activity in Colorado and according to the CAIC in the last week there have been: 8 separate avalanche accidents 12 people caught in moving debris 9 people buried 1 person injured 2 people killed Colorado is expecting warmer-than-average temperatures this weekend and this could lead to an increase in wet avalanche activity. Similar to the wet slab avalanche that took place west of Crested Butte in the photo below. If you do head to the backcountry, the CAIC recommends very conservative terrain choice and sticking to slopes less than 30 degrees. Anyone traveling in the backcountry should always carry proper safety gear, including an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel, and know how to use those tools. Daily avalanche forecasts can be found at
