By Shannon Lukens.

 

Get ready for snow. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Saturday night. Look for up to a foot of snow and difficult travel conditions for Friday and Saturday.

 

 

The avalanche danger is very high this weekend, with an Avalanche Warning issued by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. It’s in effect from Saturday afternoon through Monday afternoon. (3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 through 3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15)

 That’s because of all of the new snow headed our way Friday and Saturday. Here is CAIC Deputy Director Brian Lazar.

“It has us as forecasters a little bit nervous about an avalanche accident this weekend for a couple of reasons. February has been the most deadly month for avalanches in the state of Colorado over the last 20 years. The period between Feb. 13 and 16 is the most deadly period within the most deadly month.”

Lazar says big storm this weekend will lead to very dangerous avalanche conditions.

“And what this is going to be accompanied by are very strong winds at the onset of the storm. This will only exacerbate avalanche conditions, all of this new and existing snow. And this is going to lead to Avalanche Warnings. This means high avalanche danger. It means we expect widespread natural avalanche activity with avalanches large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person.”

Lazar says here’s how to stay safe.

“In the area that has high avalanche danger and the Avalanche Warning is in place, we simply do not recommend travel in the backcountry avalanche terrain. So the best way to stay safe in any of these areas through this weekend, with this really potent winter storm, is to utilize the sheltered slopes at lower elevations and lower angle slopes, less than about 30 degrees without steeper slopes overhead. We’re glad to see a return of winter, but we do need to change our mindset. We need to reign in our terrain choices, make very conservative travel plans this weekend as we enjoy the new snow.”

 

Press Release from Colorado Avalanche Information Center; Feb. 13, 2025.

Avalanche Warnings in effect for busy and notoriously dangerous holiday weekend

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is warning backcountry travelers that the avalanche danger will rise to HIGH (4 of 5) over the Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day weekend, one of the busiest—and, historically, most dangerous—times of the season.

“We want people to enjoy a holiday weekend in the mountains, but they need to make sure their plan matches the avalanche danger, which will be higher than it has been in a month and a half,” said CAIC Director Ethan Greene.

A powerful storm is set to arrive Thursday night, bringing heavy snowfall and strong winds to the mountains through Saturday.

“Starting Friday, the avalanche danger will be HIGH in a lot of our mountains west of the Continental Divide,” said Greene. “We’re particularly concerned about avalanche accidents this weekend because portions of our snowpack are quite weak. We’ll see heavy snowfall after a fairly dry period, and lots of people will be heading into the backcountry to enjoy the holiday weekend.”

February is the deadliest month for avalanches in Colorado, and Valentine’s Day through Presidents Day weekend is the most dangerous period of the season. Over the past 10 years, eight people have died in avalanches between February 14-16.

“We expect natural avalanches this weekend, and people venturing into the backcountry will be able to trigger slides big enough to bury, injure, or kill them,” Greene warned. “And once the skies clear on Sunday, the chances of an accident will increase due to the nice weather, new snow, and dangerous avalanche conditions.”

CAIC assigns avalanche danger ratings using the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale, ranging from LOW (Level 1) to EXTREME (Level 5). When conditions become particularly hazardous, CAIC issues Avalanche Watches and Warnings to alert the public. Additionally, Special Avalanche Advisories are released when a significant safety risk coincides with a high-traffic period, such as a major storm during a holiday weekend.

Backcountry travelers should take the following precautions:

• Check the avalanche forecast before heading out: Colorado.gov/avalanche
• Avoid avalanche-prone terrain during periods of heightened danger.

Always carry proper avalanche safety gear, including a transceiver, probe, and shovel—and know how to use them.

February is historically the deadliest month for avalanches in Colorado, with the highest concentration of fatalities occurring between February 13-16. Over the past 20 years, more than one-third of all February avalanche deaths have happened during this four-day period—nearly double the expected number if fatalities were evenly distributed throughout the month.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is a state agency within the Department of Natural Resources that is dedicated to public avalanche safety across Colorado. Since 1950, avalanches have killed more people in Colorado than any other natural hazard. Our mission is to provide avalanche information, education and promote research for the protection of life, property and the enhancement of the state’s economy. CAIC supports this mission by providing avalanche safety resources statewide, issuing daily avalanche forecasts during the season for around 28,000 square miles of Colorado’s backcountry terrain, and participating in avalanche research projects to advance snow science. Learn more at Colorado.gov/avalanche

 

Here’s the full interview with CAIC Deputy Director Brian Lazar.