CAIC Daily Avalanche Forecasts Return Nov. 1 With Redesigned Website

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) will resume daily backcountry avalanche forecasts Sunday, Nov. 1, with a redesigned website that makes it easier for people to find and use avalanche safety information this winter.

CAIC provides backcountry avalanche forecasts for approximately 28,000 square miles of Colorado's mountains from Nov. 1 through May 31. Issued daily by 4:30 p.m. for the following two days, forecasts include avalanche danger ratings, current avalanche problems, travel advice and mountain weather information. Forecasts are updated as conditions warrant, and CAIC also provides year-round avalanche conditions updates as needed.

The redesigned website, available at colorado.gov/avalanche, makes it easier to find and compare avalanche conditions across Colorado's forecast areas. Users can now drop a pin on the map to view nearby forecast areas within 25 miles. This is particularly useful for snowmobilers and other backcountry travelers whose routes cross multiple forecast areas.

"Avalanche conditions can vary significantly across Colorado's mountains," said Ethan Greene, CAIC director. "We want people to understand the hazards where they're planning to travel and use that information to choose appropriate terrain."

The redesigned site offers an improved mobile experience and makes it easier to submit field observations. A new and improved CAIC mobile app is also coming in November.

Avalanches are possible whenever there is snow on a slope steeper than about 30 degrees. CAIC encourages everyone heading into Colorado's snow-covered mountains to check the avalanche forecast before every trip, carry avalanche rescue gear and know how to use it, and understand the risks of traveling in avalanche terrain.

Each winter, CAIC forecasters and educators travel across Colorado to host free public events focused on avalanche awareness and mountain safety. Visit CAIC's new events calendar to find local events, or sign up for Avalanche Aware, a free online course developed by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) in partnership with CAIC and the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC).

These educational programs are made possible in part by the support of Friends of CAIC. Learn more about CAIC's nonprofit partner and how to support avalanche forecasting and education at support.friendsofcaic.org.

Visit colorado.gov/avalanche for current avalanche conditions, forecasts and educational resources.