Avalanche — Southwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado
January 6, 2015 · NOAA Storm Events record
Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
0
Property damage
—
Area
Southwestern San Juan Mountains
Event narrative (NOAA)
Two cross country skiers were traversing the northwest side of Kendall Mountain when an avalanche was triggered. The snow layer fractured at the 11,300 foot layer, a short distance above one skier who was quickly swept several hundred feet down a 42 degree slope into a grove of trees. The skier caught in the avalanche came to a stop against a tree and was partially buried. That skier did not survive.
Other notable avalanche events in Colorado
S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet · April 20, 20135 killedWest Elk And Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc To Ec Gunnison · February 6, 19993 killedNorthwestern San Juan Mountains · February 1, 20213 killedGore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys · March 13, 20072 killedS & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet · January 1, 20062 killedGore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys · March 17, 20002 killed
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.