High air temperatures enhance the effects of the solar radiation, and the melt is faster. Race the sun-begin on easterly aspects, work south and then move to western aspects. Keep in mind that high afternoon temperatures will often soften the western aspects more rapidly than other slopes. There are several indicators of decreasing stability. Several inches of soft, slushy surface snow is the best clue.
Roller balls increasing in size or small point releases are other good indicators.
Move off of such slopes, and avoid traveling below steep, slushy slopes. Terrain traps like narrow gullies are good places to avoid-even a shallow avalanche can pile up deeply. Shallow snowpacks with saturated snow at the bottom are not good. The water acts as a lubricant, and there is little to hold to snow to the slope. Failure to the ground is possible in areas like this, especially as the surface snows soften and weaken.