Avalanche forecast

Vail & Summit County

Colorado Avalanche Information Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

  • Wind Slabs

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

Avalanche Summary

An Avalanche Watch is in effect for the Gore Range and Holy Cross Wilderness. Heavy snow and strong winds will create very dangerous avalanche conditions during the day on Tuesday, lasting through Wednesday morning. Avalanches will break wide across terrain features and run long distances. Many will run naturally. Travel in, near, or under avalanche terrain is not recommended on Tuesday.

On Monday, shallow slopes that face from west through to southeast are the most dangerous. Before you trigger a large slide, you are unlikely to get any warnings from the snowpack, like cracking or collapsing. Observers have reported many sets of tracks on slopes before riders find weak areas. Stay away from pillows of rounded snow where winds have drifted snow. If you trigger an avalanche in the surface it is likely to step down to deeper weak layers. It is very difficult to assess where you can trigger a slide right now so consider sticking to slopes less than about 30 degrees.

Regions covered