The avalanche threat has been elevated to "high" for most of western Colorado.

With heavy, wet snow falling in the higher elevations of Colorado the threat of avalanches has risen dramatically. There was one fatality over the weekend. A skier was trapped, buried, and killed in an avalanche in the Upper Senator Beck Basin area near Telluride on Saturday.

When you log onto the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website 5 areas are flashing red. It's there that the avalanche threat is rated as "high." Those areas are the backcountry regions around Steamboat Springs, Gunnison, Aspen and on the Grand Mesa. Travel isn’t recommended in or below any of those parts of Colorado for the next several days.

The risk is ranked as "Considerable" for the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. It was here where the skier was killed on Saturday. The Durango Herald says a group of backcountry skiers was actually taking part in an avalanche safety course when the mountain snow gave way. All six in the group were caught in the event with 40-year-old Peter Marshall of Longmont being killed.

if you're planning a ski trip any time soon. Be sure and check the CAIC website for the latest information.

Credit: Fox31

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