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Updates from CAIC staff on avalanche conditions, safety and research.
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How Coloradans Made Decisions During February 2026’s Dangerous Avalanche Cycle
How Coloradans made backcountry decisions during February 2026’s dangerous avalanche cycle. Results from a Snow Pool survey show how CAIC forecasts, warnings, social media, and public messaging influenced trip planning and terrain choices.
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March 2026 Avalanche Summary – Colorado
March 2026 brought a major shift in Colorado avalanche conditions, from persistent slabs early in the month to widespread wet-snow avalanches during record warmth.
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February 2026 Avalanche Summary – Colorado
Remotely triggered avalanches near Marble Peak. February 12, 2026.
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January 2026 Avalanche Summary – Colorado
A statewide look back at January 2026 avalanche conditions in Colorado, including key storm and wind-loading periods, persistent weak layers, and notable regional trends that shaped avalanche activity through the month.
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December 2025 Monthly Summary
A statewide summary of Colorado avalanche conditions in December 2025, including weather patterns, snowpack structure, avalanche activity, and notable events across the Northern, Central, and Southern Mountains.
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November 2025 Monthly Summary
A dry early November set the stage for weak snowpack conditions across Colorado. Late-month storms increased avalanche activity statewide, signaling a fragile early-season foundation heading into winter.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - April 17, 2025
Colorado experienced a warm, dry, and mostly sunny week, accelerating our transition into spring conditions.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - April 10, 2025
The last storm in the Northern Mountains ended on Friday, April 4, after a week of unsettled weather that delivered 1 to 2 feet of snow.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - April 3, 2025
In the past week, the Northern Mountains picked up 1 to 2 feet of snow from a storm late Friday into Saturday, followed by additional unsettled weather starting…
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - March 27, 2025
A storm that ended Sunday, March 23, brought snow and strong west to northwest winds across all Colorado mountain regions.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - March 20, 2025
A storm from March 13–15 brought 6 to 12 inches of snow to the Northern Mountains with strong westerly winds, followed by another storm this week adding 4 to 8…
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - March 13, 2025
Last Thursday and Friday were the end of a multi-day storm that started on March 3 and brought 1 to 2 feet of snow to the Northern Mountains.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - March 6, 2025
After more than two weeks at CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger (3 of 5), last weekend saw warm temperatures and gradually decreasing avalanche danger, with Vail/Summit…
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A Flood of Emotions: A Valentine’s Atmospheric River and Avalanche Cycle
In the days leading up to Valentine's Day 2025, Colorado's snowpack was primed for an avalanche cycle.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - February 20, 2025
Weekly Summary for February 20, 2025
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - February 13, 2025
The Northern Mountains received 8 to 16 inches of snow last Friday and Saturday, accompanied by strong westerly winds, followed by a smaller storm on Tuesday.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - February 6, 2025
The Park Range picked up 10 to 18 inches of snow e last weekend, with 8 to 12 inches in parts of the northern Front Range.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - January 23, 2025
Bitter cold temperatures and a weekend storm delivered up to 12 inches of snow to the Northern Mountains, with the Front Range and Park Range receiving the heaviest…
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - January 16, 2025
A winter storm impacted the Northern Mountains last weekend, dropping 6 to 12 inches of snow in most areas, accompanied by moderate westerly winds.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - January 2, 2025
Avalanche Watches, Warnings, and Special Avalanche Advisories were issued across Colorado this past reflecting the dangerous avalanche conditions statewide during a…
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - December 20, 2024
An avalanche on Kelso Mountain caused one of two notable accidents in the Northern Mountains this past week.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - December 12, 2024
Avalanche activity remained minimal in the Northern Mountains this week, with only two avalanches reported since December 4.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - November 7, 2024
The Northern Mountains — the Front Range in particular—saw the most avalanche activity in the last week with 28 avalanches reported—4 of those were human-triggered.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - November 28, 2024
From Sunday through Wednesday, the Northern Mountains received 12 to 32 inches of snow. Summit County saw an uncommon event, with 18 inches falling in 24 hours.
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - November 22, 2024
Weekly avalanche summary published November 22, 2024
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - November 14, 2024
Weekly avalanche summary published November 7, 2024
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Avalanche Weekly Summary - November 7, 2024
Stay informed with the CAIC Weekly Avalanche Summary. Get timely updates on Colorado’s avalanche and snow conditions, weather impacts, and safety alerts to help you plan a safer backcountry weekend.
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2023-24 Season Summary
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center celebrated its 50th anniversary of operations during the 2023-24 season.
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May 2024 Summary
May was characterized by a decline in reported avalanches from April even as the month saw more wintry weather than usual.
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April 2024 Summary
Following a snowy March that inched the statewide Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) above the 30-year median, April delivered a generous amount of warm, sunny weather…
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March 2024 Summary
March was a snowy month for Colorado. February increased the statewide Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) close to 30-year median values, and then March pushed our…
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February 2024 Summary
February was an eventful month with four notable storms and avalanche cycles. Avalanche activity included many human-triggered avalanches, a few small natural…
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CAIC Alerts
The CAIC issues avalanche danger ratings based on the North American Avalanche Danger Scale.
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January 2024 Summary
At the start of January, snow depths were well below normal throughout much of Colorado and the Western US.
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Early January Storm Cycle Overview
This blog details the storm cycle from January 4 to 18, 2024.
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Dec 2023 Summary
CAIC summary for December 2023.
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Check out the New Features on Our Website
CAIC has updated its weather forecast features and launched the Accident Explorer. Read this blog to learn more.
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Oct-Nov 2023 Summary
A storm in late October followed by a three-week dry spell built a weak base for the winter's snowpack.
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CSAW Speaker Spotlight on Guest Presenters
The 22nd annual Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop (CSAW) is Friday, October 27 at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge.
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2022-23 Season Summary
The 2022-23 season was characterized by abundant snowfall, several potent storm events, and the implementation of a new forecasting platform and product schedule. This blog details events on a month-by-month basis.
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A new look for the CAIC’s backcountry avalanche forecasts
Snow is starting to pile up in the mountains and we will start issuing daily weather and avalanche forecasts on November 1st.
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Spooky Moderate
CAIC’s Brian Lazar explains "Spooky Moderate" conditions in this blog, how forecasters qualify the Danger Scale during tricky conditions, and how to safely enjoy the backcountry.
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The Danger of Improving Stability
CAIC staff discuss the danger of improving stability in this blog post, when the likelihood of triggering an avalanche decreases but the size and consequences of avalanches increase when there's a deep persistent slab problem.
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Weather Stations – Measuring Precipitation
The CAIC website houses data from a large network of weather stations throughout Colorado. This blog discusses weather station readings, the instruments that take them, and how the data can be useful for backcountry users.
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Likelihood and Consequences
This CAIC blog discusses hazards as a spectrum of both avalanche likelihood and consequences and how users should manage different scenarios.
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Avalanche Danger as a Continuum
CAIC staff discuss how they consider avalanche danger on a continuum, considering multiple elements of the Danger Scale.