Latest news with #BrianLazar
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
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
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The Western Slope prepares for Presidents Day weekend snow
WESTERN SLOPE, Colo. (KREX) – National Weather Service meteorologist Kate Abbott says, 'The heaviest snowfall will happen today. we'll have a little bit of a lull in the accumulation overnight, with some more snowfall, especially in the mountains tomorrow, and then we have another new weather system set to come in on Sunday that could bring some snow.' Abbott says the Grand Valley received zero to six inches of snow and with this fresh powder there can be danger to your travels. Austyn Dineen, the I-70 mountain corridor communications manager with the Colorado Department of Transportation, states, 'When a crash happens and we have to clear out, that makes the roads more challenging after that.' Western Slope Now spoke with Dineen on how CDOT is looking to make I-70 through Colorado as safe as possible despite the storm coming through. Dineen states, 'CDOT mobilizes plows and starts from the storm, but may also put down a layer of de-icer once the storm starts to fall, to help prevent precipitation from freezing on the roadway surfaces.' Dineen also tells WesternSlopeNow with the COTripPlanner app or website, there are active updates of road conditions, along with where plows are deicing the road conditions. Brian Lazar, deputy director with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, states, 'I can't emphasize enough right now that going and poking around without checking the avalanche forecast is a very risky proposition.' WesternSlopeNow spoke with deputy director Brian Lazar from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and he says there is a high danger of avalanches on the Western Slope. 'For this weekend in particular, it's important to emphasize that we are entering we're in a period of very high avalanche danger. We have avalanche warnings in place across most of the western mountains in Colorado,' Lazar said. Lazar says the CAIC recommends for people to not recreate or travel in the backcountry due to the high avalanche danger. While the snow can pose danger, on the flip side it's positive to our local ski resorts. Ryan Robinson, the assistant general manager and director of marketing and sales at Powderhorn Mountain resort, states, 'This is our favorite kind of weather. It's all smiles up here. we've had a foot of snow in the last three days, and it's been coming down all day today.' Robinson tells WesternSlopeNowwith all of this snow it is a bonus to the number of weekend visitors and it will help the basin of the resort. Robinson states, 'Snow boosts visitation. People want to go skiing when it snows, but we've been lucky enough to have great skiing conditions through the recent warm, dry spell.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
14-02-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
CDOT warns next 2 days will be snowy in Colorado mountains, expect I-70 ski traffic to be heavy
President's Day Weekend is always one of the busiest weekends of the year at Colorado's ski areas, and this year snowy conditions could make it a challenging drive for Coloradans from the Front Range who are hoping to visit the resorts. The Colorado Department of Transportation warned that highway mountain driving conditions will be dangerous on both Friday and Saturday for the central and northern mountains. Snow accumulation will slow traffic down on Interstate 70 and Highway 40 through Grand County on Saturday morning as well as Saturday evening. "If you're trying to head out in the teeth of the storm, anticipate delays," said Brian Lazar, the deputy director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. "Have blankets, food, water in your car." Some mountain areas could see 1 to 3 feet of snow accumulate through Saturday night. CDOT says Friday and Monday "are historically the busiest days of travel with peak times" at the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel as follows: Friday, I-70 westbound: starting around 1 p.m. and continuing through 6 p.m. Monday, I-70 eastbound historically from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. In the southwestern part of the state starting Thursday night through midday Friday, Highway 550 will closed between Silverton and Purgatory due to the prediction for heavy snow there. For people planning to high country, avalanche danger will be high over the weekend. An avalanche warning will be in effect on Friday and Saturday for most of the San Juan Mountains, the Elk Mountains, the Flat Top Mountains and Park Range.
