Avalanche forecast

Southeast Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Saturday will begin with generally safe avalanche conditions and normal caution. As new snow accumulates later this afternoon and evening, heightened avalanche conditions will develop. If you are traveling in avalanche terrain later today, keep an eye out for wind slabs forming on the lee sides of terrain features at upper elevations. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The current southwest winds need new snow to transport into fresh winds slabs. So this avalanche problem will not develop until we see accumulating snow later today or tonight. Keep your eye on accumulating snow this afternoon, and watch for blowing snow near ridgelines and wind-exposed areas to help identify the timing of this developing avalanche problem. 

    Previous wind events earlier this month have left behind hard slabs on similar aspects. These old hard slabs will be stubborn to trigger and are isolated across the terrain. You can feel for a slab of hard snow over soft faceted snow. Triggering one of these old hard slabs could knock you off your feet or push you into more hazardous terrain features. 

    An example of a small wind slab that formed on the lee side of a ridgeline earlier this winter. Blowing snow can be seen in the background. 

Avalanche Discussion

Rain and melt-freeze crusts are widespread on the snow surface. The Christmas Day rain event left behind a rain crust up to about 10,700ft, so keep that in mind if you are trying to find soft snow to ride today. Melt-freeze crust extends into the alpine on southerly facing slopes. As you climb above ~10,000ft, you'll begin to find a little soft snow sitting on those crusts that should improve riding conditions. 

This winter has been plagued by drought conditions and well-above-average temperatures. LOW avalanche danger is well established across the forecast area. All eyes are now on the incoming storm and the rising avalanche danger that will arrive if the snow forecast stays on track. Wind slabs will be the first avalanche problem to develop, and if we see enough snow accumulate, we could see a more widespread storm slab avalanche problem on Sunday. 

Regions covered