Shifting winds and light new snow mean new wind slabs for today in areas exposed to the winds and the potential for loose dry avalanches on steep slopes in sheltered areas. Human triggered avalanches are possible today and could have consequences. Identify where wind slabs and wind-affected snow may exist. These areas will hold more complicated and potentially hazardous conditions. Softer, more consistent snow and less avalanche hazard should exist on sheltered lower angle slopes. 

Shifting winds and light new snow mean new wind slabs today in areas exposed to the winds and the potential for loose dry avalanches on steep slopes in sheltered areas. Human triggered avalanches are likely today and could have serious consequences. Identify where wind slabs and wind-affected snow exist, and avoid those slopes in favor of more sheltered lower angled slopes. That strategy can help you to find better recreation conditions and expose your party to less potential avalanche hazards.

The hazard posed by wind slabs that formed earlier this weak is diminishing, though the avalanche danger will rise again late today as new snow and winds create a new generation of wind slabs. The safest, best riding is in wind-sheltered terrain, though you may have to hunt and peck for long lines of undisturbed snow. Avoid steep slopes with dense deposits of drifted snow or where blowing snow is forming soft, cohesive slabs. 

You can find trouble today, but you’ll have to look for it. The safest, best riding is in terrain sheltered from the wind. If you stray from this terrain, you might find the exceptions: steep slopes where recent winds have drifted snow into slabs sensitive to a person’s weight. Return to the better alternatives if you encounter small drifts behind trees, branches empty of snow, and dense, harder snow underfoot or under your sled.

You can find trouble today, but you’ll have to look for it. The safest, best riding is in terrain sheltered from the wind. If you stray from this terrain, you might find the exceptions: steep slopes where recent winds have drifted snow into slabs sensitive to a person’s weight. Return to the better alternatives if you encounter small drifts behind trees, branches empty of snow, and dense, harder snow underfoot or under your sled.

The onslaught of northeast winds and bitterly cold wind chill continues. Expect to encounter unusual loading patterns at all elevations, with fresh slabs identifiable by cracking and collapsing. Areas sheltered from the wind will hold safer and higher quality snow. Buried weak layers remain a concern in areas with a thin snowpack. Steer around convexities in favor of planar, well-supported slopes.

Continued northeast winds will drift snow in unique loading patterns at all elevations. Look for blowing snow with cracking and collapsing signs of instability. Areas sheltered from the wind will hold safer and higher quality snow. Triggering a Persistent Slab avalanche is a low-likelihood, high-consequence problem that is best managed through terrain selection. Avoid convexities while seeking out planar well-supported slopes with a uniform snow cover.

Continued northeast winds will drift snow in unique loading patterns at all elevations. Look for blowing snow with cracking and collapsing signs of instability. Areas sheltered from the wind will hold safer and higher quality snow. Triggering a Persistent Slab avalanche is a low-likelihood, high-consequence problem that is best managed through terrain selection. Avoid convexities while seeking out planar well-supported slopes with a uniform snow cover.

Human triggered storm slabs are possible where the surface snow has settled into a cohesive slab. Long running sluffs are possible in very steep terrain. Watch for cracking in denser snow and be wary of steep slopes above terrain traps. Very large persistent slab avalanches remain a concern. Seek out well supported, concave slopes with a deep, uniform snow cover to best avoid that larger problem.

Up to a foot of new snow and changing winds are creating obvious instabilities on the snow surface. Expect drifts that can break up to a foot or more deep on steep, leeward slopes. Watch for blowing snow and cracking in denser snow as red flags. Less obvious is the continuing threat of persistent slab avalanches. Choose lower angled terrain that is planar, or concave, and has uniform snow cover to reduce your risk to this dangerously large problem.

New snow and changing winds are creating obvious instabilities on the snow surface. Expect drifts that can break up to a foot or more deep on steep, leeward slopes. Watch for blowing snow and cracking in denser snow as red flags. Less obvious is the continuing possibility of persistent slab avalanches. Choose lower angled terrain that is planar, or concave, and has uniform snow cover to reduce your risk to this dangerously large problem.

Pay attention to signs of fresh wind drifting as you gain elevation today: winds have increased out of the south.  Weak layers buried 2 to 4 feet deep continue to hint at lingering instabilities, particularly in the Whitefish Range, where a skier escaped a very large persistent slab on Wednesday.  

We have had more near misses and accidentally-triggered large slides in the past week than the rest of the winter combined.  Many of these have involved solo travel. While the danger posed by buried weak layers and wind slabs is not widespread, it continues to catch people by surprise.  To hedge your bets against drawing a joker, grab a partner, carefully assess the snowpack and choose simpler, concave terrain that is out of the wind. 

We have had more near misses and accidentally-triggered large slides in the past week than the rest of the winter combined.  Many of these have involved solo travel.  While the danger posed by buried weak layers and wind slabs is not widespread, it continues to catch people by surprise.  To hedge your bets against drawing a joker, grab a partner, carefully assess the snowpack and choose simpler, concave terrain that is out of the wind.