Strong gusty winds and new snow created very dangerous avalanche conditions yesterday. In the Hoback Canyon area a large slide closed the highway at 4:30 pm. Another slide released naturally earlier in the day and crossed the trail to Granite Hot Springs. Conditions are still dangerous. Small to very large slab avalanches are likely to be human triggered on steep slopes on a variety of aspects at all elevations and could release naturally. Expert terrain assessment skills and conservative terrain choices are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.
Strong and gusty westerly winds have caused extensive drifting and cross loaded avalanche starting zones on a variety of aspects. At all elevations recently formed wind slabs one to three feet in depth are likely to be easily triggered on steep wind loaded terrain features.
Dangerous deep slab avalanches could be human triggered on a variety of aspects or release naturally where today's winds continue to drift snow into avalanche starting zones. These persistent 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.
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.
