Front Range

Look for and avoid areas of drifted snow on steep slopes. Two pulses of intense snow with easterly winds increase the danger on Friday. Easterly winds mean you should look out for drifted snow in atypical places. You can easily trigger avalanches where you find more than about 10 inches of recently drifted snow. Avalanches can step down to buried weak layers and grow larger.

Spots below ridgelines and along gully walls are likely places to find drifted snow. If you see cracking or feel a collapse, those are obvious signs to avoid these slopes. Those obvious clues are decreasing, and you could trigger an avalanche without any warning.

You can find safer travel choices in wind-sheltered or lower-elevation terrain, where the new snow remains unconsolidated.