Front Range

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect for the Front Range, Summit County, and the northern Sawatch Range and will run through Sunday afternoon. Recent storm snow rests on a weak, fragile snowpack. Dangerous avalanche conditions extend from mountain tops to valley floors. You can trigger a large, dangerous avalanche on many steep slopes including road cuts, river banks, and wind-sheltered or treed terrain at lower elevations. Safe backcountry travel this weekend requires that you recognize and avoid slopes capable of producing a large avalanche.

Recent snow and wind buried a weak layer of snow two to four feet deep or more in wind-loaded areas. Most avalanches are breaking at this layer, and some are breaking even deeper. You can trigger avalanches from a distance or the bottom of a slope and they may break wider and run farther than you anticipate. If you decide to travel in avalanche terrain, choose your route wisely and give steep slopes a wide berth. Slopes less than about 30 degrees without steep slopes above offer safer travel options.