At higher elevations, be wary of steep, leeward slopes. That’s where you can find wind slabs that can crack and slide under your weight. It’s also the terrain most likely to harbor trigger points for unpredictable deep persistent slabs. At middle and low elevations, rising temperatures and rain on snow may cause loose wet avalanches on steep slopes. Rollerballs are the first warning of wet snow avalanches.

Avoid steep, leeward slopes where snow cover may be thin, so you can avoid triggering a very large avalanche that breaks on old weak layers. In areas where more than a few inches of snow accumulates, look for soft slabs of drifted snow on steep slopes. These can be dangerous if they're more than about 8 inches thick and above terrain traps like gullies or dense trees. 

Avoid steep, leeward slopes where snow cover may be thin, so you can avoid triggering a very large avalanche that breaks on old weak layers. In areas where more than a few inches of snow accumulates, look for soft slabs of drifted snow on steep slopes. These can be dangerous if they're more than about 8 inches thick and above terrain traps like gullies or dense trees. 

A wet snow avalanche hazard continues today, primarily on and below steep, sunny, slopes. Avoid riding in this terrain if you see snowballs running down slope or wet snow sticks to your boards, snowshoes, or machine. This danger will develop sooner and be more widespread if skies are sunnier than forecast. Stick to sheltered slopes that aren't below leeward, upper-elevation start zones to reduce your exposure to destructive avalanches that break on weak layers near the ground. 

The avalanche danger will rise with warming temperatures and solar radiation. Avoid being on or underneath steep, south-facing slopes if you start to feel the warmth from the sun, or if the snow begins to glop up on your skis, boards, machine, or snowshoes. Be cautious if you venture into mid and upper elevations due to the potential for warming temperatures or smaller avalanches to trigger much larger slab avalanches. 

The avalanche danger will rise with warming temperatures and solar radiation. Avoid being on or underneath steep, south-facing slopes if you start to feel the warmth from the sun, or if the snow begins to glop up on your skis, boards, machine, or snowshoes. Be cautious if you venture into mid and upper elevations due to the potential for warming temperatures or smaller avalanches to trigger much larger slab avalanches. 

Today, expect wind slabs to be stubborn and isolated to upper elevations just below ridgelines. Avoid this terrain by sticking to the light, fluffy snow in wind sheltered locations. If we see warmer temperatures and stronger sunshine than expected, the danger will rise to MODERATE as the recent snow moistens and sluffs off of steep terrain.

Today's quiet weather will make natural avalanches unlikely. Human triggered slabs breaking in recently drifted snow, or on deeply buried weak layers, remain a concern. Staying away from steep wind loaded terrain, where these problems overlap, will offer the safest riding.

Today's quiet weather will make natural avalanches unlikely. Human triggered slabs breaking in recently drifted snow, or on deeply buried weak layers, remain a concern. Staying away from steep wind loaded terrain, where these problems overlap, will offer the safest riding.

Seek out wind protected terrain for the safest riding conditions.  Easily triggered soft slabs will be forming below ridges, cornices, and cross-loaded terrain as westerly winds increase today.  Concerns for deeper, older layers are isolated, but not gone.  

Historic avalanches failed on deeply buried weak layers as recently as Tuesday night. Heavy loading from new snow has subsided, but a poor snowpack structure may still be precarious. Manage your terrain choices with an eye for trigger points like big, rocky, alpine terrain or convexities. Be extra cautious of overhead hazards if you decide to cross under avalanche paths. As you gain elevation, small wind slabs may be a more immediate problem.

Track storm totals and watch for drifting snow. The danger will rise as new snow accumulates. Triggering storm slabs could become likely if we get more than 5 inches and winds thicken slabs on leeward slopes. Dense new snow that cracks below you is a warning that you should choose lower angled, simple terrain. Smaller avalanches stepping down to deeper weak layers remains a concern.

Expect wind-stiffened slabs below leeward ridgelines and on cross-loaded features. Rounded drifts that crack around you are signs of trouble. Sluffs can be hazardous on steep, wind sheltered slopes with terrain traps below. In bigger terrain, smaller avalanches that step down to deeper weak layers are not out of the question.

You can trigger avalanches that break 2 feet thick where winds have drifted the recent snow into soft slabs. The distribution of these slabs is complex, thanks to arctic air pouring over Marias Pass and southwesterly winds at upper elevations. Triggered sluffs of recent snow pose a serious danger on very steep slopes where the wind hasn't affected the surface snow. Pay close attention to surface conditions, so you can adjust your riding to match the hazard.