At the mid and upper elevations buried layers of faceted snow and crust that formed in January remain a concern. The potential for skiers and riders to trigger dense slab avalanches on these layers will rise as the day warms. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.
At the mid and upper elevations pockets of dense surface slab up to two feet in depth could be triggered by skiers or riders in isolated areas. The sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers will increase as the day warms.
Expect partly cloudy skies on Thursday as a weak shortwave moves over the area. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the upper teens before rising into the mid-30s during the day. Westerly ridgetop winds will range from 10 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE on Thursday. In isolated areas above 7,500 feet, some potential may persist for backcountry travelers to trigger persistent slabs up to two feet deep. The likelihood of triggering these slides will increase with daytime warming on sunlit aspects.
