Avalanches are unlikely and most slopes are safe. Watch for isolated wind drifts and cornices at and just below ridgelines.
Last weekend's wind and snowfall formed drifts and slabs near exposed ridgelines. While unlikely, you could trigger relatively small, lingering slabs where they overlie hard, wind-polished surfaces or crusts. You're most likely to encounter this problem at upper elevations. Watch for smooth pillows of stiffer snow, dunes, or wave-like patterns on the surface.
We have a few problems to consider today. Here's a quick review:
Wind Slabs: As described above, you may find small wind slabs that formed over the weekend. They should be relatively small and easy to spot and avoid.
Loose Snow: Loose snow avalanches are typically divided into dry and wet categories, but there are a hundred shades of grey in-between. If you are skiing or riding in very steep, shady terrain, dry loose slides are on the table. As you wrap onto sunnier aspects, both natural and human-triggered avalanches are possible. Of particular concern are E and SE facing slopes that have remained relatively cool over the last couple of days. These slopes will get a jump start on warming today as overnight low temperatures remained relatively mild (low 20s F).
Cornices: This photo shows some large, overhanging cornice growth near Copper Mountain. Cornices are unpredictable beasts and can break much farther from the "lip" or edge than you'd expect. Give them some space, especially if you aren't excited about the prospects of rolling down whatever slope is beneath them.
All of these problems are simpler to manage than persistent slab avalanches but can be consequential in the wrong terrain. Even small avalanches can have large consequences if they drag you through rocks, over cliffs, or pile you into a terrain trap like a creek bed or gully.
