Colorado’s mountains were hit with a week-long winter storm, dumping feet of snow in some areas and creating avalanche conditions in many areas.

Earlier this week, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) issued an avalanche warning for much of the state, which expired Thursday night. Now CAIC has put a special avalanche advisory into effect for all mountain areas in Colorado.

“You can trigger a large and dangerous avalanche, and natural avalanches are possible,” Ian Fowler from CAIC wrote Thursday night. “You can trigger an avalanche from below or an adjacent slope. Avalanches can break wider and run further than you might expect. Traveling on or under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees is not recommended.”

The alert lasts through the weekend, expiring late Sunday night.

While many may want to hit the mountains this weekend — especially with Sunday looking like a bluebird day — it’s essential to be prepared for avalanches. CAIC has a helpful program to train those who hit the backcountry.

There have been three avalanche fatalities in Colorado this winter.

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