Vail & Summit County

Strong winds drifted snow into slabs at upper elevations. You can trigger an avalanche in drifted snow on steep northerly and easterly-facing slopes. You might trigger an avalanche that breaks only in recently drifted snow. The bigger hazard is slides breaking into weak snow near the ground. Look for and avoid drifted pillows on steep slopes just below ridgelines and in gully features. Cracking and collapsing are signs of unstable snow. Avoid steep slopes if you see these signs. For safer travel options, stick to slopes with a slope angle less than about 30 degrees or areas protected from the wind.