Over the past few days, many large to very large avalanches occurred. Southwesterly winds continue to load leeward slopes and avalanche conditions remain dangerous. Small to large avalanches are possible to be human triggered on steeps slopes on a variety of aspects above an elevation of 7,500 feet. These slab avalanches could also be released naturally. Below this elevation human triggered avalanches are possible on steep terrain.
Strong and gusty winds have caused extensive drifting and cross-loaded a variety of aspects at all elevations. Recently formed wind slabs one to three feet in depth are possible to be triggered on steep wind loaded terrain features.
Dangerous deep persistent slab avalanches could be triggered or release naturally where today's winds continue to drift snow into avalanche starting zones. These deep slab avalanches could step down to depths of 4 to 8 feet at the mid and upper elevations and to depths of 3 feet below an elevation on 7,500 feet. These very large avalanches could run full path into lower elevation run out zones.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Conditions will be dry with light winds through Thursday. Skies that will be partly cloudy in the morning will become mostly cloudy late in the day. Temperatures will be in the single digits tonight and rise into the teens in the mountains and into the 20s in the valleys during the day. Winds will back to the south at 10 to 15 miles per hour.Deep instabilities persist. Large to very large slab avalanches 5 to 10 feet in depth could be triggered by humans at the mid and upper elevations where the general avalanche hazard is expected to be considerable. Lesser hazard is expected below an elevation of 7,500 feet where slab avalanches 1 to 3 feet could be triggered by humans on some steep wind loaded terrain features.
