Avalanche forecast

Sangre de Cristo

Colorado Avalanche Information Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

  • Loose Wet

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

Avalanche Summary

You can trigger an avalanche on steep slopes where wind-drifted surface snow forms a hard layer above less-cohesive layers below. Upper-elevation northerly and east-facing slopes are the most likely places to encounter this combination of stiff surface slabs and weak, early-season snow near the ground which is the recipe for avalanches. Avoid traveling near cornices along ridgelines or on slopes beneath large cornices. Slopes less than about thirty-five degrees provide safer options.

Move off steep slopes once you sink past your ankles into wet snow. Loose avalanches will be easy to trigger on very steep slopes once the snow surface is saturated. The soggy snow will follow the sun from east to south to west, and up in elevation with the warming temperatures.

----------------------------------------------------

Friends of CAIC’s Spring Campaign Fundraiser Raising $40,000 by April 12th - Supporting Trailhead Education - donate at support.friendsofcaic.org/spring

Regions covered