4. Whoomping sounds or cracks: Cracks in the snow surface and/or "whoomping" sounds mean that a weak layer is collapsing and that the snowpack is unstable. This is a sure sign of instability; stay on low angle slopes.
5. Rapid temperature rise: If the temperature is rising; watch out! Often it will be cold powder skiing in the morning and then warm up significantly in the afternoon. This rapid warming can transform fluffy powder into a dangerous slab. This newly formed slab can change stable powder conditions into unstable slab conditions in a very short time. In a settled more spring-like snowpack, if you are sinking into wet snow 6" or more, the snowpack surface is becoming saturated and wet slides could occur. Roller balls, snow snails and point releases all indicate wet unstable snow.
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