Since Tuesday night, the Cottonwoods got anywhere between 4-6 inches of light snow that have fallen on an array of snow surfaces in the backcountry. In areas sheltered from the northwest winds, I would expect to continue seeing shallow new snow avalanches today. The primary concern will be fast-running sluffs in steep terrain. Any area that still held any lingering weak, faceted snow before the storm will be more suspect for some shallow soft slabs to begin forming. Remember that even a small avalanche can be problematic in very steep and complicated terrain. Think about the terrain you are traveling above today.

While temperatures are climbing, it is still only February and the sun isn't at its full intensity yet. For that reason, snow on southerly-facing slopes shouldn't heat up too much today to cause widespread wet avalanches, but pay attention to changing conditions and be prepared to alter your plans. Pinwheels, rollerballs, and small point releases are signs that the snow surface is becoming damp, and it's time to leave or change your aspect.

Look for any slopes with signs of wind drifted snow, and avoiding those slopes. Wind-affected snow often looks wavy, rounded, pillowy, and can sound hollow when walking or riding on it.