"Historic" Avalanche Threat in Colorado

news image
Special Stories
7 Mar 2019 9:14 AM
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center warns of a potentially large to "historic" avalanche threat, tweeting out the 'extreme' level 5 of 5 threat Thursday morning. https://twitter.com/COAvalancheInfo/status/1103649463455895557   Multiple avalanches have occurred across the state in recent days. Slides in Wyoming and Colorado have turned deadly. CAIC reports two recent deaths, one in Wyoming when a snowmobiler was caught and buried in a slide on March 4. Another fatality occurred in Colorado as a back-country skier was buried in an avalanche on March 3. Parts of I-70 have had to be shut down multiple times in recent day with multiple slides occurring, and blocking the roadway, including this slide caught on camera on March 3. https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1102797385242214400   On Thursday morning, local officials shut down a portion of Colorado's I-70 and SR-91 due a natural gas leak after an avalanche hit near a local gas station. https://twitter.com/Summit_Fire/status/1103652859894263810   Following information and story from WeatherNation affiliate KOAA: KOAA - The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) warned of “historic avalanche danger” around the central mountains of Colorado following recent heavy snow. In a tweet Thursday morning, the CAIC raised its avalanche danger scale to “extreme.” That scale warns that major avalanches are very likely and natural and man-made avalanches are “certain.” The avalanche warning is for the Vail, Summit County, Sawatch, Gunnison and Aspen zones. The warning comes after yet another avalanche spilled snow onto I-70 early Thursday morning at Vail Pass. I-70 had been covered by multiple avalanches Sunday afternoon east of Copper Mountain. Meanwhile, the Front Range, the San Juan, Steamboat and High Mesa zones were upgraded to 4/5 on the avalanche scale. That means large avalanches are possible in many areas.  
All Weather News
More
Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

More records were broken across the Midwest a

14 Oct 2026 1:30 AM
System Late Week Roars into the Northeast

System Late Week Roars into the Northeast

It's getting to be that time of year! Systems

14 Oct 2026 1:30 AM
Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

14 Oct 2026 1:25 AM
Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

Severe weather looks to return to parts of th

14 Oct 2026 12:55 AM
Cooler Air & Snow Invades The Rockies

Cooler Air & Snow Invades The Rockies

A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatu

14 Oct 2026 12:50 AM
Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

13 Oct 2026 12:10 AM
Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, F

12 Oct 2026 11:00 PM