State: Heavy snowpack means avalanche danger

DENVER – State officials are warming that a deep snowpack and warming temperatures could combine to unleash large and dangerous avalanches.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says record snowpack in parts of the northern and central mountains could produce avalanches in areas that haven’t seen any in decades.

The Center said that an unusually large avalanche on April 30 destroyed a high voltage tower and century-old trees in Summit County’s Peru Creek drainage area near Montezuma.

Officials are urging the public and field workers to be prepared for very large avalanches, as well as mudslides and debris flows.