It is possible to trigger soft and hard slab avalanches of wind-drifted snow. Moderate winds blowing from the northwest over the past few days have formed drifts in starting zones near ridgelines and around terrain features such as gullies, rocks, rollovers, and sub-ridges. This afternoon's kick-up in wind speeds will continue to create sensitive slabs of wind-drifted snow. Wind slabs are often recognizable as rounded pillows of snow that can feel hollow or drum-like underfoot. You may see shooting cracks out in front of your skis or sled, and some slabs may allow you to get well out onto them before suddenly releasing.

• Watch for and avoid areas with wind-drifted snow.
• Collapsing or shooting cracks are clear signs of instability—but their absence does not mean the slope is safe.
• Avalanches of wind-drifted snow could step down into the buried January persistent weak layer, producing larger and more dangerous avalanches.

Watch for and avoid being on or under steep slopes with saturated snow during the heat of the day. This problem will be most pronounced on sunny slopes, but low-elevation polars may also become soggy with today's warm temperatures.

• If you notice rollerballs or pinwheels and/or you are sinking deeply into mushy, wet snow, move to a cooler aspect or elevation, or lower-angle terrain.

A persistent weak layer of faceted snow from January is now buried about 2–4 ft deep on mid- and upper-elevation slopes facing the north half of the compass. While avalanches breaking into this layer are unlikely, any that do occur will be large, destructive, and dangerous.

• Avalanches failing on buried facets can propagate widely and may be triggered remotely—from the side or below.
• Slopes with a shallower overall snowpack are most suspect.
• Red flags are often absent when these avalanches occur.