DENVER (KDVR) — With heavy snow on the way for the mountains, officials warn that avalanche danger is rapidly increasing.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecasted harsh conditions for both recreation and travel impacts. It said conditions are just right for avalanches to happen over the next couple of days.
“Snow is returning, which is great news,” said Brian Lazar, Deputy Director for the CAIC. “But that’s gonna coincide with a fairly rapid increase in avalanche danger as we move into the weekend and into the early part of next week.”
After a fairly dry December snow-wise, Lazar said people want to take advantage of the incoming conditions for things like backcountry skiing or snowshoeing.
“A lot of pent-up demand for fresh snow, people have time off,” he said.
Ironically, the lack of snow seen this month is what’s helping make avalanche conditions so dangerous.
“Because we had such a long, extended dry spell in December, we created some really weak snow at the surface and just underneath the surface and we’ve got very fragile weak layers,” said Lazar.
Those weak layers are now likely unable to withstand the rapid increase of snow coming.
“The best way to stay safe is essentially choosing terrain that is appropriate for the conditions,” said Lazar.
The CAIC has its own mobile app that shows current forecast conditions or visit the CAIC website. Lazar said avalanche watches currently in place are likely to advance to warnings on Friday and encourages people to steer clear of certain areas during that time.
“We, you know, recommend that people do not travel in backcountry avalanche terrain,” said Lazar. “That means slopes over about 30 degrees in steepness, or even if you’re in flat terrain if you’ve got steep slopes overhead.”
Lazar said the parts of the state most likely to be impacted are around Steamboat Springs and in the Elk Mountains and Ruby Range near Crested Butte.