Denver, CO – Backcountry travel across Colorado’s high terrain could turn life-threatening within hours as heavy snow and strong winds rapidly increase avalanche danger through Wednesday night.
According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, avalanche danger will reach Level 3 (Considerable) across many mountain zones Wednesday, especially where more than 10 inches of new snow accumulates. The most unstable conditions will develop near and above treeline, where strong winds will drift fresh snow onto north through east-facing slopes.
Mountain regions west of Denver, including Summit County, Vail Pass, and the Elk Mountains, are expected to see the heaviest snowfall. Blowing snow and poor visibility will make it difficult to identify unstable slabs, increasing the risk for backcountry skiers and snowmobilers. Wind-loaded slopes may fail quickly, even under a single person’s weight.
Officials urge travelers to avoid steep, wind-loaded terrain and stick to lower-angle routes. Carry avalanche safety gear, including a beacon, probe, and shovel, and check conditions before heading out.
Additional snowfall into Thursday could further increase instability, with conditions likely to remain dangerous into late week as more systems approach.
