Avalanche cautions given out across Colorado's high country as snowpack threat persists

There is high avalanche danger in Colorado’s high country. The midweek storm still dumping snow in the mountains Thursday morning is adding to the already problematic snowpack statewide.

Avalanche warnings have been issued to the Aspen, Gunnison, Vail and Summit County regions through Friday morning by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. They also released an avalanche watch for the same period for the Front Range, Steamboat and Flat Tops.

“You can trigger large and dangerous avalanches on all aspects and elevations today,” CAIC said in their warning. “Moderate to strong winds and heavy snowfall will increase the avalanche danger throughout the day. Avalanches can easily break at or near the ground on weak snow buried deep in the snowpack.”

Anyone can trigger avalanches from a distance and in low angle terrain so officials recommend avoiding slopes over 30 degrees at all elevations.

What officials call “persistent slabs” is one of the main issues with this season’s snowpack. Persistent slabs form when additional layers of snow bury a persistent weak layer.

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While the issue persists after storms, the most recent snow has also heightened the chance of storm slab avalanches. These release naturally during snowstorms and can be triggered for a few days after snowfall.

“The Grand Mesa snowpack is a mess, teetering on the brink of becoming dangerous,” CAIC’s Ben Pritchett said. “This storm may or may not provide enough precipitation to kick off an avalanche cycle there. Even if natural avalanche activity doesn’t begin to roll around the Grand Mesa, it will become easy for a person or snowmobile to trigger dangerous avalanches.”

Areas in Colorado not under watches or warnings still have either moderate or considerable avalanche danger in the next few days.

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