Colorado Springs, CO – A significant avalanche watch has been issued for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado, with dangerous conditions expected to develop Friday evening. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has warned that a potent upslope storm will bring heavy snow and strong winds, creating hazardous avalanche conditions.
According to the National Weather Service, the avalanche watch is in effect from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday. The storm is expected to cause large and dangerous avalanches that will be easy to trigger, with large avalanches possibly running naturally. The warning specifically covers areas south of US-160.
Officials are urging those planning to travel in backcountry areas to reconsider, as the risk of avalanches will be high. The best advice is to avoid slopes with an incline steeper than 30 degrees, especially during the storm’s peak. For additional safety guidelines and updates, residents are encouraged to visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s website at colorado.gov/avalanche.
