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Spring Snowstorm Keeps Avalanche Danger High

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The recent heavy spring snowstorms have not only boosted snowpack levels in much of Colorado. The storms have also led to an increase in avalanche danger.

According to theColorado Avalanche Information Center the nearly 10 plus inches of new snow that’s fallen in the last 24 hours combined with strong westerly windsm are contributing to higher rankings.

We've embedded the current and always updating avalanche conditions map below.

The 2012/2013 winter season recorded11 deaths due to avalanches. That includes the five caught in an avalanche off Loveland Pass this weekend.

This year’s count is up from the 7 deaths by avalanches recorded in 2011/2012 winter season.

The late in the season snow storms may have surprised many of us. But, National Weather Servicemeteorologist Kyle Fredin says it’s not terribly unusual to see this kind of winter weather in April.

“This is pretty normal, if you look back over 142 years, this is what we like to see. I think we’re a little thrown off, because the last 3-10 years have been kind of dry, we’ve been in kind of an extensive drought. But this is good to see,” says Fredin.

The short term forecast shows warmer weather is once again moving in. But Fredin says if we get another quick cold snap we could see flurries into early May.

My journalism career started in college when I worked as a reporter and Weekend Edition host for WEKU-FM, an NPR member station in Richmond, KY. I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a B.A. in broadcast journalism.
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