Full Notification

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER. AN AVALANCHE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PARK RANGE, ELKHEAD MOUNTAINS, FLAT TOP MOUNTAINS, ELK MOUNTAINS, RUBY RANGE, MOSQUITO RANGE, SAWATCH RANGE, GRAND MESA, SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, SAN MIGUEL MOUNTAINS, RICO MOUNTAINS, LA PLATA MOUNTAINS, NEEDLE MOUNTAINS, LA GARITA MOUNTAINS, AND GRENADIER RANGE

* TIMING...Issued at 7 AM MST on Thursday February 14th for very dangerous avalanche conditions to begin overnight Thursday and continue through Friday February 15th

* AFFECTED AREA...Colorado Avalanche Information Center Backcountry Forecast Zones including the Steamboat/Flat Tops, Aspen and Gunnison zones, Grand Mesa zone, Sawatch zone, North and South San Juan zones

* AVALANCHE DANGER...The avalanche danger will rise overnight and is expected to reach HIGH(4of5) danger by Friday morning

* REASON...The second in a series of storms will bring 1 to 2 feet of snow to many portions of the Colorado mountains with very strong westerly winds. As snow accumulates natural avalanches are likely to occur. Large human-triggered avalanches will be very likely on Friday.

* AFFECTED AREAS: GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS ... WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ... EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT ... ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS ... UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU/DALLAS DIVIDE ... NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ... FLATTOPS ... WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST LAKE COUNTY ABOVE 11000 FT ... GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS ... EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT ... LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT ... WEST JACKSON AND WEST GRAND COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET ... SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ... WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT

Instructions:

avalanche terrain is not advised on Friday. As heavy snow continues, natural avalanche will release naturally and may run from mountain tops to valley floors. Consult www.colorado.gov/avalanche for detailed information. JK