Heightened wind slab avalanche conditions exist due to significant recent accumulations and drifting in upper and some mid elevation terrain. Yesterday, we noted better bonding to last week's snow, and we found less sensitive wind slab conditions then we had seen on Wednesday, but there are very deep drifts that formed in the last few days due to sustained northwest and westerly winds. Significant drifting was ongoing all day yesterday.
Avoid drifted snow on the lee sides of ridges, cross-loaded along sub-ridges, and in and around terrain features like rock outcroppings, gullies, scoops, trees, and saddles. Cracking in the snow surface is a sign of potential wind slab instability.
Cracking like this is a red flag indicating potential soft slab (or wind slab) instability. (photo from 3-23-16)