Sawatch

A potent winter storm is impacting the area through the day on Friday. As new snow accumulates the avalanche danger will increase rapidly. You can trigger an avalanche near and above treeline on northerly and east-facing slopes where you find more than 10 inches of wind-drifted snow. The old snow surface can be old weak snow, firm wind drifts, or slick crusts. Avalanches may break wider than you anticipate on these layers. Shooting cracks in drifted snow are a sign you should move to lower-angle or wind-sheltered terrain.