Expect to find stiff wind slabs and treacherous cornices in terrain exposed to drifting from northwest winds. Avoid stiffer wind deposited snow on steep slopes, and watch for potential wind slabs in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, and cliff bands. Wind slabs are drifts that can appear chalky, rounded or bulging, and can sound hollow or drum-like. Be cautious along the ridges, since cornices might break further back than expected and cornice falls could trigger dangerous wind slab avalanches on slopes below.

A new load from recent drifting might reactivate the early January weak layer in some isolated areas. I've been finding very weak January faceted snow in many areas, but my recent tests have shown this layer to be rather non-reactive. There may be some exceptions, and avalanches might fail 1 to 2 feet deep on weak faceted snow created during the drawn-out January high pressure systems. I'm also keeping a close eye on the small grained facet/rime layer that was on the surface during the cold early February high pressure and is now only shallowly buried by the recent accumulations. Steep upper elevation slopes with generally shallow and weak snow cover and recent wind loads are the most suspect today. Although the chances are slim, you might trigger dangerous persistent slab avalanches in some areas remotely, from a distance or worse, from below.

Loose wet avalanches are possible on lower and mid elevation sunny slopes, especially if the sun comes out earlier or temperatures rise further than expected. Roller balls, pin-wheels, and sluffs are signs the the saturated snow on steep slopes is prone to avalanche.