Front Range

A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect. Recent snow and strong winds have formed thick cohesive slabs above an unusually shallow and weak snowpack. Avalanche conditions will remain dangerous through the weekend. Careful planning and conservative terrain selection is essential for safe travel in backcountry avalanche terrain.

You can trigger an avalanche where you find more than about 8 inches of wind-drifted snow. Deeper drifts are found near ridgelines, vegetation breaks, and along gullies. Continued snowfall may have hidden rounded pillows of drifted snow. On aspects where you observe cracking and collapsing, avoid steep slopes. You can find safer travel on slopes sheltered from the wind at lower elevations.

Clear, sunny skies may cause some sluffing on steep, rocky southerly terrain.