Avoid stiff and perhaps hollow sounding wind slabs near ridge tops and in and around terrain features like gullies, sub-ridges, scoops, and rock outcroppings. Wind slabs may have formed on weak faceted or feathery snow that was previously on the snow surface, which means the slabs could be reactive to our weight, and the older drifts may stay sensitive to human triggering for a little while.

Yesterday's hard wind slabs rested on weak surface snow, and they were still sensitive to our weight. Hard slabs have a nasty tendency to allow you to get out on them before releasing. Although these wind slabs were pretty small, the hardness makes them less manageable, and more dangerous wind slab conditions likely exist today in some drifted upper elevation areas. (1-13-2016)

Loose and very weak snow can be found on the surface in many areas, and as a slab consisting of heavy new snow stacks up on it storm slab avalanches will become more likely. More snow than expected today could cause soft slab avalanches to become possible even in sheltered terrain and at lower elevations. As more snow piles up tonight and tomorrow on widespread weak snow the avalanche danger will rise significantly in the backcountry.