Avalanche Risk in Colorado
All Colorado counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index avalanche score
Avalanche risk — fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes — is rated for 43 of 64 Colorado counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Summit County carries the state's highest avalanche score at 99.0, with $11M in expected annual avalanche losses.
23 Colorado counties are rated High or Very High for avalanche, and expected annual losses from avalanche total roughly $96M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Avalanche
| # | County | Avalanche Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summit County | Very High | 1.07 / yr | $11M | |
| 2 | Pitkin County | Very High | 1.40 / yr | $11M | |
| 3 | Clear Creek County | Very High | 0.87 / yr | $8M | |
| 4 | Eagle County | Very High | 1.23 / yr | $6M | |
| 5 | Gunnison County | Very High | 1.27 / yr | $7M | |
| 6 | Jackson County | Very High | 0.37 / yr | $4M | |
| 7 | San Juan County | Very High | 0.80 / yr | $6M | |
| 8 | Chaffee County | Very High | 0.30 / yr | $5M | |
| 9 | Grand County | Very High | 0.93 / yr | $5M | |
| 10 | San Miguel County | High | 1.00 / yr | $4M | |
| 11 | Ouray County | High | 0.53 / yr | $3M | |
| 12 | Dolores County | High | 0.43 / yr | $2M | |
| 13 | Rio Blanco County | High | 0.13 / yr | $2M | |
| 14 | Larimer County | High | 0.20 / yr | $3M | |
| 15 | Mineral County | High | 0.13 / yr | $2M | |
| 16 | Mesa County | High | 0.17 / yr | $2M | |
| 17 | Garfield County | High | 1.33 / yr | $2M | |
| 18 | Conejos County | High | 0.20 / yr | $1M | |
| 19 | Lake County | High | 0.13 / yr | $2M | |
| 20 | La Plata County | High | 0.47 / yr | $2M | |
| 21 | Rio Grande County | High | 0.07 / yr | $959K | |
| 22 | Montezuma County | High | 0.40 / yr | $1M | |
| 23 | Boulder County | High | 0.63 / yr | $2M | |
| 24 | Saguache County | Medium | 0.17 / yr | $848K | |
| 25 | Routt County | Medium | 0.20 / yr | $1M | |
| 26 | Alamosa County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 27 | Montrose County | Medium | 1.07 / yr | $378K | |
| 28 | Delta County | Medium | 0.70 / yr | $311K | |
| 29 | El Paso County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 30 | Hinsdale County | Medium | 0.90 / yr | $241K | |
| 31 | Gilpin County | Low | 0.40 / yr | $131K | |
| 32 | Jefferson County | Low | 0.40 / yr | $131K | |
| 33 | Archuleta County | Low | 0.37 / yr | $72K | |
| 34 | Park County | Low | 0.40 / yr | $131K | |
| 35 | Las Animas County | Low | 0.03 / yr | $46K | |
| 36 | Moffat County | Very Low | 0.20 / yr | $2K | |
| 37 | Fremont County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $94 | |
| 38 | Costilla County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $57 | |
| 39 | Huerfano County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $49 | |
| 40 | Custer County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $72 | |
| 41 | Teller County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $18 | |
| 42 | Pueblo County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $9 | |
| 43 | Douglas County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $11 |
43 Colorado counties with measurable avalanche risk. See the national avalanche ranking or all Colorado counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Colorado county has the highest avalanche risk?
Summit County has the highest FEMA avalanche risk score in Colorado at 99.0 (Very High), with $11M in expected annual losses and about 1.07 events per year.
How many Colorado counties face significant avalanche risk?
43 Colorado counties record measurable avalanche risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 23 of them are rated High or Very High.