Vail & Summit County

An Avalanche Watch is in effect for the Gore Range. New snow and strong winds will create very dangerous avalanche conditions starting Sunday night and lasting through Tuesday night. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended during this time.

You will most likely trigger an avalanche where you find more than 8 inches of new snow. Areas, where the wind had drifted the snow into stiff, rounded pillows, will be even more hazardous. Below ridgelines, terrain breaks, and cross-loaded gullies are where drifted snow is most likely. Cracking or collapsing in the new snow are signs you have found surface instability, and you should avoid steep slopes.

These avalanches may stay confined to the surface snow or step down to the ground. This is more likely in steep rocky terrain with a shallow snowpack. Multiple people could ride a slope before a large slide is triggered. You can find safer travel on slopes less than about 30 degrees in steepness.