Gunnison

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect for mountainous areas of Colorado. New snow and winds through the holiday weekend will increase the avalanche danger statewide. Very dangerous avalanche conditions will develop in some regions, with the most dangerous conditions developing Saturday afternoon and into Sunday. Avalanche conditions will be more dangerous than we’ve experienced in weeks. Adjust your weekend plans accordingly and check the forecast frequently for changing conditions.

New snow and wind will thicken slabs over buried weak, collapsible layers. This means that avalanches will grow in size. Backcountry travelers triggered relatively small avalanches near Monarch Pass on Wednesday. These avalanches will get much more dangerous on Thursday. Easterly-facing slopes that are catching drifted snow are the most dangerous.