Avalanche forecast

Gunnison

Colorado Avalanche Information Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

Avalanche Summary

You can easily trigger a small avalanche in recently wind-drifted snow on steep easterly and south-facing slopes. Although most of these avalanches will be small, some slopes in areas that got the most snow from Monday's storm might be able to produce an avalanche big enough to injure or bury you when combined with terrain traps such as a creek or gully below you. If you see cracking in the new snow or notice clear signs of wind-loading such as a fresh cornice on top of a slope or a wave-like appearance on the snow surface, stick to low-angle slopes or move to more wind-sheltered terrain.

You might be able to trigger a larger avalanche on slopes facing the northern half of the compass that didn't avalanche during the last storm during Thanksgiving week. To reduce your chances of triggering one of these larger and more dangerous avalanches stick to smooth, planar slopes that are consistently more than three to four feet deep.

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