At the higher elevations areas of unstable snow exist in steep avalanche prone terrain. Mostly stable snow persist below an elevation of 8,500 feet.
At the higher elevations weak faceted snow persist near the base of the snowpack. Slab avalanches up to four feet in depth could be triggered on this weak layer in steep bowls, gullies and basins. Larger triggers such as high making snowmobiles or multiple sleds on the same slope are most likely to trigger one of these slab avalanches.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Skies are forecast to be partly to mostly sunny on Thursday with a chance of isolated mountain snow flurries. Temperatures are expected to drop below zero overnight and rise into the upper teens during the day. Winds will back from the west-northwest to the west-southwest at 10 to 20 mile per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the upper elevations and LOW below an elevation of 8,500 feet. Unstable surface slabs one to three feet in depth that could be triggered by a skier or snowmobiler exist in some very steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas.
