It's Only October, But Colorado Forecasters Are Already Warning About Avalanches
Halloween hasn’t arrived yet, but avalanche forecasters in Colorado are already asking people who might go backcountry skiing to stay safe.
The cautionary Instagram post—the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) won’t start publishing daily avalanche forecasts until November 1—noted that “It’s still October, but avalanche hazards are developing on steep, snow-covered slopes as a major storm moves through Colorado.”
Meteorologist Chris Tomer, who shares morning snow forecast updates on his YouTube channel, noted that as this storm arrives, freezing levels are quite high at about 13,000 feet. But those freezing levels are expected to drop.
Resorts like Arapahoe Basin and Keystone have snow in the forecast on Saturday and Sunday, although the precipitation may remain mixed depending on the elevation, per the National Weather Service.
The CAIC said that rain falling on snow could produce wet loose avalanches on Thursday. But as the temperature gets colder, snow is forecast to accumulate above treeline, with six to 12 inches forecast in the San Juan Mountains by Friday morning. More snow is possible through the weekend, the post continued, and small dry avalanches could develop where snow piles up or drifts.
“Heading into the high country this weekend?” the CAIC wrote. “Choose lower-angle routes and go around steep, snow-covered slopes, especially where drifts are deep enough to cover the ground. Even small avalanches can carry you into rocks.”
Human-powered skiing this time of year isn’t particularly unusual, and some have already indulged. Earlier this month, skiers hit the ski area Showdown in Montana when an early season storm produced more than a foot of snow. At Alta, Utah, a brave skier took a High Boy run with minimal coverage. In Colorado, at Silverton Mountain, face shots are already on tap.
The CAIC’s update offers an important reminder, though. The stoke train is, yes, pulling into the station, but no matter the time of year, avalanches can pose a problem. Please keep your head on a swivel out there, folks. We’ve got a lot of winter ahead of us, so going slow never hurts.
The CAIC will continue to provide updates as conditions change before its daily forecasts kick in.
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