Avalanche Warning in Effect Across Colorado this Morning | Avalanche Danger HIGH (Level 4 of 5)

An avalanche warning is in effect in Colorado through Saturday morning, February 8 at 8:00 am. Forecast zones included in the warning are Steamboat & Flat Tops, Front Range, Vail & Summit County, Sawatch Range, Aspen, and Gunnison.

• Related: Alta and Snowbird, UT CLOSED Due to Avalanche Danger for 2nd Day in a Row

A potent winter storm is increasing the avalanche danger to HIGH (Level 4 of 5). Heavy snowfall and very strong northwesterly winds are building sensitive wind-drifted slabs and rapidly loading buried weak layers. You can easily trigger large and dangerous avalanches and some may run naturally. Travel in backcountry avalanche terrain is not recommended through Saturday morning.

Many Colorado ski areas woke to well over a foot of fresh snow this morning. Breckenridge 19″, Copper 17″, and Vail 17″ were some of the highest 24-hour totals.