Since the beginning of March, Colorado has been dealing with what has been called an “historic and unprecedented” series of avalanches. As much as 100 inches of snow fell in spots during the beginning of the month, and it has led to more than 550 avalanches across the state.

At least eight people have died in avalanches there so far this winter, with the most recent this past weekend when a slide occurred near Crested Butte. The death toll is already above the full-winter average.

Avalanches have also buried roadways, including major ones such as Interstate 70. The threat was enough for the Colorado Department of Transportation to advise not traveling to the mountains for a time.

Other massive snow slides have destroyed woodlands untouched by avalanches for as long as anyone can remember. One near Aspen, more than a mile wide, knocked over as many as thousands of old-growth trees over the weekend. Then, thanks to its great heft and speed, it rushed uphill at the opposite side of a valley.

The region has already surpassed the average number of avalanches for an entire season, and prime time for them is just beginning.