Vail & Summit County

A few inches of snow on Wednesday won't increase the avalanche danger. It might make it harder to identify and avoid steep previously wind-loaded slopes. Most recent slides were on east, southeast, or south-facing slopes, but a recent close call on a northeast-facing slope shows you can find problematic drifts there, too. If you can avoid these drifted slopes, you can avoid most avalanches.

Look for and avoid hard drifts of snow where your skis, board, or sled don't sink more than a few inches into the snow. Supportable snow on steep slopes means you found a slab, and if you're on one of the aspects mentioned above, there are likely weak, collapsible layers below this slab.

Snow continues Wednesday night; look for the danger to increase on Thursday.