Journal 70: When Snow Turns Dangerous (Explainer Video)

Blizzards aren’t defined by how much snow falls, but by how wind, temperature, and terrain turn different kinds of snow into serious hazards. This explainer video highlights six dangerous types of snow that is common in Cuchara and how recognizing them can prevent injuries, accidents, and damage to cabins during Colorado’s winter storms.

When we hear the word blizzard, we often think of deep snowfall. But blizzards aren’t really about how much snow falls, they’re about what wind does to the snow. What changes from year to year is how often each one appears and how dangerous it becomes depending on wind, temperature, and terrain. Understanding these differences can help prevent injuries, vehicle accidents, and damage to cabins during Colorado’s winter storms.

Here are six kinds of unsafe snow that can quickly turn a winter storm into a dangerous situation.

1. Powder Snow

Powder Snow is light, dry, and fluffy. In very cold temperatures, strong winds can lift it off the ground and blow it through the air, creating whiteout conditions even when snowfall isn’t heavy.

When facing powder snow, stay close to buildings or landmarks when walking, and avoid driving in open areas as powder snow can blow into whiteouts so fast you can lose your sense of direction. Be sure to mark paths, doors, and key landmarks around your cabin with tall stakes so you can still find your way when everything turns white.

2. Blowing Snow

Blowing Snow is snow that’s already on the ground. High winds sweep it back into the air, reducing visibility to almost nothing, sometimes long after the storm has ended.

When snow starts blowing, visibility drops suddenly. Be sure to slow down and stop before you lose the road. Many winter accidents happen after snowfall ends because blowing snow hides curves and shoulders. It’s also a good idea after storms to recheck driveways and access roads because what was clear yesterday can drift shut overnight.

Blowing snow is one of the most dangerous and deceptive winter conditions in Colorado. 

3. Drifting Snow

Drifting Snow happens when wind pushes loose snow into deep piles behind buildings, trees, fences, and road cuts. These drifts can grow several feet high, burying roads, vehicles, and doorways.

When driving, be sure to never drive into a drift unless you know what’s underneath. Drifts often hide ditches, culverts, and soft snow that can trap vehicles or cause falls. When it comes to your cabin, expect deep drifts at cabin corners, decks, the back side of cabins, and behind fences and woodpiles. You will also want to clear exits early so doors don’t freeze shut.

In mountain communities, drifting snow is often the main cause of blocked roads, buried vehicles, and frozen-shut doors, sometimes days after a storm.

4. Wet and Heavy Snow

Wet, Heavy Snow forms when temperatures hover near freezing. It sticks to everything, weighing down roofs, snapping power lines, and clinging to trees and structures.

When it comes to wet, heavy snow, timing and frequency of clearing are critical. Clear roofs, decks, and vents early and in stages. Heavy snow can damage structures, snap lines, and block exhaust vents.

Pay special attention to stovepipe, furnace, and generator vents as blocked vents can lead to carbon monoxide buildup inside your cabin. A long extension pole can help you shake snow off of overhanging limbs before they break or damage your home.

5. Sleet and Snow Pellets 

Sleet and Snow Pellets are tiny ice balls that bounce off the ground. They create a hard, slick layer beneath fresh snow, making roads and walkways especially dangerous.

When dealing with sleet while walking or driving, assume little to no traction. Walk with short steps and allow extra stopping distance when driving. Remember, braking takes much longer and a greater distance on ice.

When it comes to your cabin, sand, salt, or grit steps and porches early. Once pellets freeze, even boots with traction struggle on untreated surfaces. Keep a couple bags of salt or sand in your trunk in case you need it to get unstuck while driving. 

Sleet is the least common of these six kinds of snow in the Colorado mountains. When it does occur, it’s extremely dangerous and can be worse than freezing rain.

6. Graupel 

Graupel forms when snowflakes become coated with supercooled water droplets that freeze on contact. It looks like little foam balls rolling across the ground. While it may seem harmless, it can make surfaces surprisingly slippery and increase the risk of falls.

Treat graupel like loose gravel on ice. Slow down, avoid sudden turns, and use caution on slopes. It can also pack down quickly on paths and driveways, so be sure to clear it early before it hardens into a slick, uneven surface.

Graupel is uncommon but not rare in Colorado. It forms most often during convective winter storms when unstable air allows supercooled droplets to collide with falling snow.

Winter in the mountains carries a special kind of beauty, but it can also create hidden dangers. By understanding the different kinds of snow, we can better recognize blizzard risks and make safer choices for ourselves and our cabins. Knowing what kind of snow you’re dealing with can make all the difference during the next mountain storm.(1)

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1.  Author’s note: In preparing this article, the author used AI-assisted tools for research support, proofreading, fact-checking, and stylistic refinement. The narrative, analysis, and historical interpretations are the author’s own, and responsibility for accuracy rests solely with the author. The blog’s research methodology statement is available at:

https://cabininthepinescuchara.blogspot.com/2019/03/methodology-sources-and-use-of-research.html