Front Range

You could trigger an avalanche on north through east to south-facing slopes at all elevations in the Front Range. These avalanches may be small but could have deadly consequences if they take you for a ride through trees or over cliffs. Easterly-facing slopes will be the most dangerous as westerly solid winds create a cohesive slab directly below ridgelines, on the sides of gullies, or on convex rollovers. On southerly-facing slopes, this new snow will drift onto a buried melt-freeze crust, making triggering an avalanche easier. An avalanche on a shallower slope could step down into a weak layer near the ground, creating a much more dangerous avalanche. If you see shooting cracks or collapsing within the new snow, it is time to move to a low-angle wind-sheltered slope.