Avalanche Weekly Summary - January 16, 2024
Northern Mountains
A winter storm impacted the Northern Mountains last weekend, dropping 6 to 12 inches of snow in most areas, accompanied by moderate westerly winds. The Steamboat Springs area picked up 20 inches of snow, with even higher amounts in the mountains north of the ski area. At least one large avalanche (D2) was reported in this region nearly every day since December 28 (every day except January 14). In total, 59 avalanches were reported last week. Thankfully, no one has been caught in an avalanche.
Central Mountains
Last weekend’s storm dropped a surprise 2 feet of snow near Kebler Pass, with around a foot across most of the western Central Mountains and around half that in the Sawatch Range. Northerly winds early this week drifted the new snow onto south-facing terrain. Like the Northern Mountains, there was an impressive string of daily human-triggered avalanches in the Central Mountains from December 27 through January 15 (except January 9 and 14). Avalanche activity has declined a lot this past week.
Southern Mountains
Last weekend's storm favored areas around Silverton and Red Mountain Pass, where about 8 inches of new snow accumulated. Five inches of snow fell around Telluride and even less to the south and east. Similar to the other regions, the storm was followed by northerly winds that drifted snow onto south-facing terrain. Although avalanche activity declined in the Southern Mountains, with just 22 avalanches reported last week, remotely triggered avalanches continued through January 16.
Heading Into the Holiday Weekend
While people are triggering fewer avalanches, the conditions are not safe. You can still trigger a large avalanche on specific slopes (check the forecast to learn which slopes are dangerous where you plan to travel!). If you do trigger an avalanche, it will likely break several feet deep and be large enough to bury you. New snow–favoring the Northern Mountains– and wind forecast this weekend will increase the chance of Wind Slab avalanches and could make it easier to trigger these dangerous avalanches.
