Steamboat & Flat Tops

The first wave of a potent spring storm could drop up to 8 inches of snow by midday Thursday. Look out for cohesive slabs of drifted snow at the highest elevations. Avoid steep slopes if you see cracking in recently drifted snow. Go around drifts where you find them below ridges and in gullies. Wind-sheltered and low-angle slopes are safer. The second pulse of the storm increases the danger further on Friday.

You might trigger an avalanche where you find wet snow underneath a cohesive slab. Be sure to step out of your skis or board multiple times to test the snow you are traveling on. If you punch through the surface into wet snow, you could trigger a Wet Slab avalanche. These slides are most likely in near treeline areas on slopes with a shallow snowpack and a weak faceted base. Slopes with lots of rocks or exposed vegetation can absorb heat faster and hold on to it longer. Starting and ending your day early helps reduce your chance of triggering a wet avalanche.