Colorado Avalanche Information Center - CAIC

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Colorado Avalanche Information Center - CAIC

CAIC is a public safety organization that provides avalanche information and education.
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06/10/2026

Now is a great time to maintain and store your winter gear for next season. Take care of your gear, and it will take care of you!

🔋 Take out batteries from your avalanche transceiver to prevent corrosion. If your beacon is more than five years old, has a headphone jack, or is no longer supported by the manufacturer, consider replacing it before next winter.

🎒 Power down your airbags. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to remove batteries, disconnect canisters, or switch the system off completely.

🪏 Clean and dry your shovel, probe, pack, and other essentials. Moisture can lead to rust, mold, or equipment failure.

❄️ Give your outerwear a wash to keep it clean and restore its waterproofness. Follow instructions on your gear and cleaning products.

😎 Store everything in a cool, dry place, away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. A few small steps can extend the life of your gear and equipment.

🎥: Friends of CAIC

06/09/2026

🚨 Join the CAIC Team! We’re hiring a Program Assistant to support the operations behind Colorado’s statewide avalanche forecasting and education program 🏔️

This is a full-time, benefited position that supports CAIC’s day-to-day operations through budget tracking, procurement, contracting, records management, fleet coordination, HR support and process improvement. It’s a great opportunity for someone who is organized, detail-oriented, and interested in meaningful public service that supports avalanche safety across Colorado.

📅 Apply by June 17, 2026 at 5 pm MST
Applicants must be Colorado residents at the time of application.

🔗 Learn more and apply: tr.ee/d9zBtP

06/06/2026

🏔 Happy National Trails Day! Colorado’s mountains and trails give us so many ways to explore, connect, and enjoy time outside.

Before heading out, check trail conditions, closure alerts and access information with the free COTREX app from our partners at Colorado Parks and Wildlife at trails.colorado.gov.

During avalanche season, COTREX displays avalanche forecasts and warnings from CAIC, offering another way for winter outdoor recreationists to check avalanche conditions before heading into the backcountry.

Even in late spring, avalanche hazards can still exist anywhere there is snow on a steep slope, especially in high alpine terrain. Plan to cross snow-covered slopes early, watch for changing conditions, and happy trails! 🗻

06/05/2026

This week, Governor Jared Polis declared a statewide drought emergency and activated Phase 3 of Colorado’s Drought Response Plan. As another snow season comes to a close, this year’s snowpack helps explain the drought conditions affecting Colorado.

Our team tracked a historically low and highly variable snowpack across Colorado this season, with bare ground and warm, dry conditions showing up in many mountain areas. By April 1, the date historically used for long-term snowpack comparisons, statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) was sitting at just 20-40% of the median.

As part of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, CAIC supports the state’s efforts to coordinate resources, monitor conditions and respond to drought impacts across Colorado.

📷: Aerial view of Red Mountain Pass on March 31, following the heatwave. Conditions looked more like late spring, with patchy snow cover and bare ground.

Colorado Drought Resources: tr.ee/RVtSyi

06/02/2026

In March, CAIC asked backcountry travelers to share how they made decisions during February 2026. We appreciate everyone who took the time to respond to the survey. Here are the results...

📊 For 18 consecutive days, avalanche danger in Colorado was rated at least CONSIDERABLE (3 of 5), including 5 days of HIGH (4 of 5) danger. CAIC increased public outreach during this period to help people understand the conditions and make informed decisions.

🏔️ Based on responses from 357 backcountry travelers, most respondents reported adjusting their plans because of avalanche conditions. Among those surveyed, 92% said they changed their plans, most often by choosing lower-angle terrain and avoiding higher-risk slopes.

These findings help CAIC better understand how people use avalanche information during dangerous conditions and how we can improve our public safety messaging.

Learn more: avalanche.state.co.us/blog

05/31/2026

June 1 marks the end of our daily avalanche forecasts for the 2025–26 season.

While we typically issue avalanche danger ratings from November 1 through May 31 (which is why you see the gray map on our website), our work doesn't stop here. Throughout the summer, we continue to monitor conditions, review observations, and update forecast summaries whenever conditions change or new information becomes available.

Most importantly, avalanche season doesn’t end just because our daily forecasts do. Avalanches remain possible anywhere snow exists, and if unusually dangerous conditions develop, we’ll let you know. You can learn about spring and summer avalanche safety at https://avalanche.state.co.us/summer-avalanche-safety.

Thank you to everyone who shared observations and helped keep Colorado’s backcountry community safe this season.

05/29/2026

🏔️ Forecast for Sat & Sun, May 30-31 ☀️

Avalanche danger is LOW (1 of 5) statewide this weekend. We’re heading into the final days of CAIC’s daily backcountry avalanche forecasts, and conditions are settling into a typical late-spring pattern. In many areas, the snow is slowly melting but warming and sunshine could bring wet-snow hazards back into play in the afternoon.

Start and end your day early, and most slopes will be safe to travel on. If you travel in steep, exposed terrain, avoid small pockets of wind-drifted snow or slopes with wet, heavy snow deeper than your ankles. Avoid travel under cornices, especially as the day warms.

📷 Field observation from the Grays and Torreys area on May 28: A backcountry traveler reported several natural Loose Wet avalanches on steep, east-facing alpine terrain visible from the standard Grays Peak trail. The slides appeared to originate from rock bands and confined gullies during daytime warming. No people were involved.

👀 Thank you to the observer for sharing this report. If you’re still getting out on the snow, please keep sending us what you’re seeing.

Public observations are especially important in early summer. After June 1, CAIC will continue to share updates through our website, mobile app, and social media when we receive new information or if unusually dangerous avalanche conditions are expected.

at colorado.gov/avalanche

05/25/2026

🏔️ Forecast for Tues, May 26 ☁️

LOW avalanche danger statewide on Tuesday. Generally safe conditions, but anytime there is snow in the mountains, you may be able to trigger small avalanches. Most will be harmless, but even a small avalanche can be dangerous in steep terrain above cliffs or rocks.

Pay attention to warming snow and isolated areas of drifted snow on steep, exposed slopes. Assess the terrain below you before committing to a slope. To manage wet avalanche concerns, move to shadier or lower-angle terrain before the snow becomes wet and unsupportable.

Unsettled weather on Tuesday may bring light snow and rain, but it is not expected to change the overall avalanche hazard. Cooler temperatures should help limit wet-snow issues in the short term.

📷: This Loose Wet avalanche on South Diamond Peak near Cameron Pass on May 25 likely released naturally from rollerballs and gained size as it ran down the main face.

at colorado.gov/avalanche

05/24/2026

🏔️ Forecast for Mon, May 25 🇺🇸

Another warm day is expected Monday before cooler weather arrives on Tuesday. Avalanche danger remains MODERATE (2 of 5) in parts of the Northern Mountains, where dry snow has lingered since last week’s storm. Elsewhere, the avalanche danger is LOW (1 of 5).

🌡️ With only a weak overnight freeze, wet avalanche conditions may develop earlier on Monday. In the Northern Mountains, snow from last week’s storm is warming for the first time, making Loose Wet avalanches more likely.

☀️ As temperatures rise through the day, wet avalanche danger will increase anywhere there is enough continuous snow. Right now, that means above-treeline and high-alpine terrain, where even small slides can carry serious consequences in steep terrain above rocks, cliffs, or terrain traps.

Timing will be especially important on Monday. If you are getting out to enjoy the holiday on snow, start early and finish early. Pay attention to changing snow conditions and watch for signs of instability, such as wet, sticky snow, rollerballs, or small natural avalanches. These are all signs it’s time to move to lower-angle terrain out of the sun or head for home.

📷: A skier triggered a small Wind Slab (D1), which triggered a Loose Wet avalanche that ran to the bottom of the Z Couloir on Braddock Peak near Cameron Pass (May 22).

A colder pattern later this week should help reduce wet avalanche concerns. Check the forecast before you go and enjoy the holiday!

05/23/2026

Forecast for Sunday, May 24: Memorial Day weekend is often seen as the unofficial start of summer, but if your plans take you into Colorado’s mountains, don’t forget it’s still avalanche season wherever you find snow.

Expect above-normal temperatures the next few days, with highs climbing into the upper 50s Sunday and low to mid-60s Monday at pass level. In parts of the Northern Mountains that picked up snow earlier this week, the avalanche danger is MODERATE (2 of 5) on Sunday. Elsewhere, the avalanche danger remains at LOW (1 of 5)

As temperatures warm, wet avalanche danger will increase anywhere snow exists. Most avalanches will be small, but even small slides can have serious consequences in steep terrain above cliffs, rocks, or terrain traps. The areas that received more recent snow will have more snow available to slide.

Typical spring travel advice still applies: start early and finish early. Watch for wet, sticky snow, rollerballs, or small natural avalanches. These are all signs it’s time to move to safer terrain.

Thanks to Matt L. for sharing observations and photos — including this one — of recent wet avalanche activity on Independence Pass from a tour on Friday. If you’re still getting out there, please continue to share what you’re seeing!

Address

325 Broadway WS1
Boulder, CO
80305

Website

http://colorado.gov/avalanche

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