Avalanche Watch Issued As Snowstorm Could Trigger Widespread Avalanche Cycle

DENVER (CBS4) - The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has issued an Avalanche Watch for almost all of Colorado's backcountry ahead of an incoming storm. The watch is in effect Monday night and Tuesday and includes the following mountain zones...

Steamboat and Flat Tops

Front Range

Vail and Summit County

Sawatch

Aspen

Gunnison

North and South San Juan

Sangre de Cristo

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(credit: Colorado Avalanche Information Center)

Several inches of new snow will fall on a weak snowpack Monday into Tuesday. The weight of the new snow could trigger a widespread avalanche cycle in the backcountry of Colorado.

Forecasters at the CAIC say to look for natural avalanche activity during the peak of the storm Monday night and Tuesday morning. Human-triggered avalanches will be very likely on steep slopes during the day on Tuesday. Experts say to avoid travel on slopes steeper than about 30 degrees.