We’re thrilled to introduce the Avy Observations overlay! This tool displays reported avalanche occurrences from participating avalanche forecast centers directly in your CalTopo map. Now, you can visualize recent and past avalanche reports in an area alongside all your other mapping data, helping you to make more informed decisions before heading into the mountains.

See Avalanche Activity Where It Matters Most

Understanding current snowpack conditions is critical when traveling in avalanche terrain. Developed in close partnership with the USDA Forest Service National Avalanche Center (NAC) and the American Avalanche Association (A3), this overlay displays reported avalanche occurrences from the Avalanche Forecast Platform (AFP) on avalanche.org. These reports come from the professional forecasters and observers as well as the public and can provide valuable real-world insights to incorporate into your planning.

Please note: currently we only display avalanche occurrences from avalanche forecast centers that provide their data to AFP. For a complete list of avalanche forecast centers that are part of this overlay, click or tap the “Avy Observations Info” at the bottom of the map viewer when displaying the Avy Observations overlay.

The Power of Integrating Avy Observations

What makes this feature so valuable? The ability to view avalanche occurrences alongside all your other mapping data. Here’s why that matters:

• Context Matters: Overlay Avy Observations with slope angle shading, recent satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and 3D to gain a more complete picture and better assess terrain risks.
• Plan with Confidence: Use real-world data from avalanche forecast centers to inform your route choices before heading into the field.

How It Works

The Avy Observations overlay is available to all users. Turn on Avy Observations to instantly display reported avalanche occurrences in your map. Occurrences are represented by an avalanche icon that includes the location of the report, the destructive force of the avalanche, and the date of the report. Click or tap on an icon to bring up more information about the occurrence. We recommend clicking or tapping the “Avalanche Details” link at the bottom of the dialog to view the full report on the avalanche forecast center’s website.

This overlay is updated once per hour and you can filter reports by date range to find the desired timeframe to inform your planning. To learn more about using the Avy Observations overlay, visit our user guide.

Check It Out 

The Avy Observations overlay is now live for all CalTopo users on the web and version 1.18 and later of the mobile app. To start using it, simply select the overlay in the Map Layers menu and explore the latest avalanche reports in a region. For obvious reasons, you need a data connection to use the layer.

This is just one more way CalTopo helps you stay informed, make better decisions, and travel safely in the backcountry. Try it out today and let us know what you think below.