Avalanche forecast

Sawatch

Colorado Avalanche Information Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2
  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2
  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

Avalanche Summary

An Avalanche Warning is in effect for the mountains near Monarch Pass. Expect very dangerous avalanche conditions to develop by Saturday Morning through Monday evening. You can very easily trigger avalanches large enough to bury you and many will release spontaneously.  Travel in backcountry avalanche terrain is not recommended.

You can trigger avalanches within the recent storm snow on any steep slope. You can also trigger a larger and more dangerous avalanche that breaks into weak layers buried near the ground on northerly and easterly-facing slopes. You could trigger avalanches from a distance or below, so give yourself a wide margin around any steep slopes. If you see signs of unstable snow like cracking or collapsing, move to slopes less than about 30 degrees that are not connected to larger, steeper slopes above.

Regions covered