You can avoid triggering wind slab avalanches today by staying away from steep, leeward terrain where snow has been blowing. Cornices will point towards rounded drifts on the slopes below. Give both a healthy margin to stay out of trouble. Dense, rippled snow that cracks beneath you is a sign that you’ve already wandered onto unstable slabs. Sheltered terrain will have softer snow and better riding conditions.

At upper elevations, slabs of drifted snow pose an isolated hazard. These freshly-formed slabs are most common in the terrain that harbors good riding conditions, so take a minute to assess conditions and consequences before climbing or dropping into gullies and bowls with leeward start zones and looming cornices at ridelines. 

Adjust your riding to avoid surprises from today's isolated avalanche hazards, which linger in terrain that harbors good riding conditions. Temper your ready-set-go by assessing conditions and consequences before climbing or dropping into steep slopes on the shady side of the compass. At upper elevations, slabs of drifted snow pose the primary hazard. At mid-elevations, weak layers buried early last week may remain sensitive to a rider's weight.

Adjust your riding to avoid surprises from today's isolated avalanche hazards. At upper elevations, slabs of drifted snow pose the primary hazard. These are most common in the terrain that harbors good riding conditions, so temper your ready-set-go by assessing conditions and consequences before climbing or dropping into gullies and bowls with leeward start zones. Falling cornices can pose a hazad in themselves, or trigger very large slides on the slopes below. 

Cooling temperatures and strong winds will help refreeze the snow surface and reduce the hazard of wet snow avalanches. Keep slope angles below 35 degrees on wind-sheltered slopes, to avoid triggering slabs 1 to 2 feet thick that fail on buried surface hoar. This layer has caused avalanches and shooting cracks within the past week. Give corniced ridgelines, and the slopes they hang over a wide berth due to the increased likelihood of cornice falls today.

Our warmest day of the year will cause dangerous avalanche conditions. The avalanche hazard will rise throughout the day due to warming temperatures and clearing skies. Avoid sun-baked slopes where the snow will become wet, causing avalanches large enough to bury, injure or kill you. Give cornices and the slopes they hang over a wide berth due to the increased likelihood of them failing and potentially triggering a deep slab avalanche below. 

Our warmest day of the year will cause dangerous avalanche conditions. The avalanche hazard will rise throughout the day due to warming temperatures and clearing skies. Avoid sun baked slopes where the snow will become wet, causing avalanches large enough to bury, injure or kill you. Be cautious on north-facing slopes where weak layers are buried 1 to 2 feet deep and caused avalanches in the past week. Watch for the increasing threat of cornice falls.

Back away from steep terrain if you find buried surface hoar beneath the recent snow. It might be lurking in wind protected, shady aspects.  It has been giving warning signs like shooting cracks and collapses.  If the sun breaks through the clouds today, expect loose wet avalanches to release from steep slopes where the snow becomes moist.  

Several natural and human triggered slabs of wind drifted snow occurred yesterday in the Flathead Range and Glacier Park. Watch for lingering slab instabilities in leeward or crossloaded terrain features as you gain elevation.  Slabs will be most reactive in areas where they formed over fragile weak layers.   

Spotty but fragile weak layers below the recent snow are delaying the healing process on some shady aspects. Anticipate inconsistent feedback and surprises as you move through terrain.  You might find trouble in your go-to favorites, such as mid-slope terrain features or wind-sheltered glades.   

Dangerous avalanche conditions persist after a period of rapid new loading. Continue to give steep slopes extra caution. After 16 inches of new snow, soft slabs and sluffs can be large enough to bury you. Ridgetop winds may form new slabs below rigdelines today on leeward aspects. If the sun comes out in could increase the potential for large sluffs on solar aspects. You can choose simple terrain with low slope angles to limit your risk.

Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop in areas that see 8 inches or more of new snow. Old snow surfaces may prevent new slabs from bonding. Expect sensitive slabs on steep, northerly slopes where surface hoar and facets were preserved as the snow started to fall. They will be largest where westerly winds have thickened the slabs on leeward slopes. Don’t dawdle in the runouts of alpine start zones. Choose simple terrain with low slope angles to limit your risk.

Dangerous avalanche conditions will develop in areas that see 8 inches or more of new and drifted snow. Slabs are developing on old snow surfaces that may prevent them from settling and bonding. Yesterday, on steep, northerly slopes, skiers triggered small wind slabs that broke on well-preserved surface hoar and facets. New slabs will be largest below ridgelines and on leeward slopes. Choose simple, sheltered terrain with low slope angles to limit your risk.

Triggering slabs of wind-drifted snow will be today's primary hazard, unless snow accumulations exceed forecasts. Consider steep slopes with more than about 8 inches of new and drifted snow carefully. The new and drifted snow will pose a hazard in its own right, and may be masking older, harder slabs. Don't dawdle under steep start zones where you see swirling snow or active loading.