Extreme avalanche danger in Colorado, historic avalanches expected
Image credit: CAIC
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) issued Extreme Avalanche Danger (5 of 5) alert on March 7, 2019, and warned of 'historic avalanche danger' around the central mountains of Colorado following recent heavy snow.
Two avalanche deaths occurred since March 3, CAIC reports. A backcountry skier was caught, buried, and killed in an avalanche near Lizard Head Pass on March 3. On March 4, a snowmobiler was buried and killed in an avalanche northwest of Togwotee Pass.
Multiple slides took place over the past couple of days, closing parts of Interstate 70 several times.
The following slide took place on I-70 west of Denver on Sunday, March 3:
#ColoradoAvalanche: No, not the hockey team! Snow slid down the mountainside, covering and closing sections of Interstate 70 west of Denver Sunday afternoon. Luckily, no injuries were reported. #Avalanche #COwx pic.twitter.com/NOJ1lGCSM8
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 5, 2019
Another slide took place early March 7 at Vail Pass:
**CAUGHT IN AN AVALANCHE** Early Thursday morning this tow truck got stuck in snow from an avalanche at Vail Pass in Colorado. Thankfully the driver is okay! The threat for avalanches remains high across the Colorado Rockies #cowx pic.twitter.com/ZurqYv8TzO
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 7, 2019
EXTREME Avalanche Danger (5 of 5) and an Avalanche Warning for Vail and Summit County, Sawatch, Gunnison and Aspen zones. Do not travel in the backcountry. Historic avalanches expected to valley floors. #CAICSummit #CAICSawatch #CAICAspen #CAICGunnison pic.twitter.com/xQuOXw6wTf
— CAIC:Statewide Info (@COAvalancheInfo) March 7, 2019
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
