Summit County Citizens Voice

The latest storm has increased the backcountry avalanche danger in the San Juans and western Colorado mountains. Bob Berwyn photo.

Natural avalanche cycle expected, with large and dangerous slides possible

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Snowfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour, strong winds and a weak base layer have upped the avalanche danger in the San Juans to the critical zone. Forecasters with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Friday issued an avalanche warning for the northern and Southern San Juans, where large and dangerous slides are likely and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

The avalanche danger is rated as high on west, northwest, north, northeast and east aspects at all elevations. The danger is considerable on southeast, south and southwest aspects at all elevations in the San Juans. The avalanche warning is in effect through Saturday morning, but the threat of slides will persist through the weekend.

By Friday morning, up to 14 inches of snow had already piled up in parts of the San Juans, with winds gusting as high as 80 mph. The biggest snow totals were reported around Red Mountain Pass, Coal Bank Pass and the Weminuche Wilderness.

Avalanche center forecasters are warning about fresh storm slabs resting on weak, faceted snow in sheltered areas near and below treeline, where smaller slabs can step down in the snowpack and generate larger slides.

In the Aspen, Steamboat, Flattops and Gunnison zones, the avalanche danger is rated at considerable, with natural slides possible and triggered slides likely on avalanche prone terrain. Across the Vail/Summit and Front Range zones, the avalanche danger is rated as moderate.

Filed under: avalanches, climate and weather, Colorado, snow, Snow and weather Tagged: | avalanche danger, avalanche warning, backcountry skiing, Colorado, Colorado Avalanche Information Center, San Juans