Dangerous Roof Avalanches in Colorado

"Properly installed snow retention systems help avoid almost all roof snow avalanches. Of course there are exceptions, especially with very steep roofs, but those are rare. In the majority of situations, snows are held back by the retention system and released gradually so avalanches do not occur."

Deadly Disaster

On March 16, 2023, Colorado Avalanche Information Center reported that a father and two children were caught in a roof avalanche while moving between a building and a vehicle. All three were buried in avalanche debris. One of the children later died from injuries sustained in the avalanche.

This year, on March 18, 2024, two teenagers playing outside a home were partially buried in a roof avalanche.  One was seriously injured.  VIDEO of the avalanche shows several feet of accumulated snow releasing from the roof.

"Tragedies like this can be prevented by incorporating snow retention systems on roofs.  The above video shows large amounts of snow sliding off the roof as opposed to what should be a slower, gentler release of snow from the roof if a retention system was in place."

Snow Retention for Every Type of Roof

We provide different types of snow retention for a variety of roof types, including standing seam metal roofs, composite shingles, concrete and clay tiles and asphalt.

"Roofing contractors can retrofit a snow retention system onto almost any roof, making it immediately safer for occupants and people walking by.  With this type of technology easily available, it's a double tragedy to see so many avalanching situations from roofs in our state right now."

~~Lars Walberg, President, Rocky Mountain Snow Guards

**Photos courtesy of Colorado Avalanche Information Center