Front Range

Wind-drifted slopes are the most dangerous. Wind Slab avalanches were easily triggered on Wednesday in the Indian Peaks. These avalanches are small but can be dangerous if they knock you off your feet in steep terrain. Look for and avoid areas with cohesive slabs of snow that feel harder and more hollow than sheltered areas with soft snow. Shooting cracks are a sure sign of unstable drifted snow.

Winds on Thursday were from an easterly direction. Watch for unusual loading patterns like thicker slabs on usually scoured westerly slopes. With another storm on Friday evening, these slabs will grow in size, making avalanche conditions dangerous on Saturday.