Steamboat & Flat Tops

You can trigger small slides in the recently drifted snow. The real hazard are slides that break on weak layers 2 to 3 feet deep. Some could break near the ground, and you might trigger them from a distance. The most dangerous slopes face west through north to east, but you can trigger an avalanche on drifted southerly slopes as well. Rocky, steep, shady slopes with variable snow cover are the most likely places to trigger a deeper avalanche. If you trigger an avalanche in surface snow, it will likely break into deeper weak layers buried near the ground. Avoid pillows of drifted snow where you see them on steep slopes below ridges and behind convex rollovers.

Wind-sheltered slopes and slopes less than about 30 degrees offer safer riding. You can find safer travel on low-angled and wind-sheltered slopes. Clouds and wind will help cool the snow tomorrow, but you can expect some of the recent storm snow to shed as temperatures break freezing. Rollerballs and point-releases are signs the snow is getting wet. Avoid traveling on or below steep, rocky slopes tomorrow afternoon if the snow is wet.