"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
Significant Winds and Hail Possible for the Plains

Significant Winds and Hail Possible for the Plains

Hail was torrential along the Colorado front

27 Aug 2026 3:10 PM
BREAKING: Dolly Forms in the Atlantic

BREAKING: Dolly Forms in the Atlantic

Tropical Storm Dolly has formed in the Atlant

27 Aug 2026 3:00 PM
Front Brings Severe Weather & Flood Threat to the I-95 Corridor

Front Brings Severe Weather & Flood Threat to the I-95 Corridor

A cold front that brought severe storms to th

27 Aug 2026 3:00 PM
Extreme Heat In Los Angeles and the Southwest

Extreme Heat In Los Angeles and the Southwest

High pressure has returned to the Southwest.

27 Aug 2026 1:00 PM
El Nino Pushes Sharks into Southern California Beaches

El Nino Pushes Sharks into Southern California Beaches

During El Nino, temperatures across the Easte

27 Aug 2026 1:00 PM
Multiple Areas to Watch in the Pacific Basin

Multiple Areas to Watch in the Pacific Basin

ISELLETropical Storm Julio formed Tuesday mor

27 Aug 2026 12:05 PM
Ross Fire Burning West of Fort Worth

Ross Fire Burning West of Fort Worth

A wildfire broke out in the Lone Star State o

27 Aug 2026 11:30 AM