Avalanche forecast

Northern San Juan

Colorado Avalanche Information Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

Avalanche Summary

Recent snowfall with high winds has overburdened a fragile snowpack. You can trigger avalanches on many slopes at all elevations. The most dangerous slopes are at upper elevations where dense, cohesive slabs of snow have formed over widespread weak layers. Avalanches here could break deeper and wider than expected, and you can trigger them from a distance. Safe travel requires giving many slopes steeper than about 30 degrees wide buffers.

Cracking and collapsing are signs of an unstable slope and an indication to move to lower-angle terrain. Be aware that you may not observe these signs of instability before triggering an avalanche.

Regions covered