Expect to find fresh wind slabs in upper and mid elevation terrain exposed to drifting from overnight and ongoing southwest winds. In some areas, wind slabs are building up on weak sugary snow that was on or near the snow surface in early February. 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. Be cautious traveling along the high ridges, since overhanging cornices might break further back than expected, and cornice falls could trigger wind slab avalanches on slopes below.

Mostly manageable soft slabs and loose sluffs involving storm snow are likely in steep terrain today, with natural activity possible and most likely during periods of intense or heavy snowfall. Avoid potential terrain traps and stay out from under steep slopes and obvious or historic avalanche paths, especially while it's dumping (or heavy snowfall is occurring)

Steep, recently drifted, rocky, outlying upper and mid elevation slopes with generally shallow and weak snow cover and recent wind loads are the most suspect. Persistent slab avalanches might fail 2 to 3 feet deep on weak sugary faceted snow. Although the chances are slim, you might trigger dangerous persistent slab avalanches in some areas remotely, from a distance or worse, from below. As weight from new snow builds up over the weekend, the currently dormant faceted snow may reawaken, and the danger of persistent slab avalanches will rise. Whumpfing and deep cracking are red flags indicating potential persistent slab instability.