Vail & Summit County

Avalanche conditions are dangerous. Strong winds on Wednesday night will drift the recent snow into slabs resting on a tender snowpack. As slabs of storm snow form, avalanches will break wider and could break on deeper weak layers. You can trigger these avalanches from flat areas and below steep slopes.

Avoid steep slopes where you see active snow drifting, see bulbous pillows of recently drifted snow, or observe shooting cracks in the snow. Give suspect slopes a wide berth. Sticking to slopes less than about 30 degrees is the best way to stay safe.