Rising temperatures, heavy snowfall and strong winds will rapidly load old snow surfaces and create dangerous avalanche conditions. Natural avalanche activity is likely and may become widespread. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at the higher elevations and expert terrain evaluation and route selection skills are essential for travel in the backcountry at the lower elevations where the run-out zones of large avalanche paths and steep slopes should be avoided.
Dense surface slabs formed by southwest to west winds will gain depth and volume and become increasingly sensitive to human triggers and natural release as the day progresses. These dangerous slabs are expected to reach depths of three feet and could fail to the ground on steep, north facing terrain at the upper elevations.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A Pacific storm with an impressive moisture plume will impact the region. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for our region. Snowfall may be heavy at times, especially during the period from Sunday morning through the evening. Snowfall accumulations of one to two feet are possible in the mountains by evening. In the valleys the snow may mix with rain during the day and is anticipated to change over to all snow Sunday night. West-southwest winds at 25 to 30 with gusts to 45 miles per hour will create areas of blowing snow and white out conditions. Temperatures will warm into the upper 20s and 30s in the mountains and well into the 30s in the valleys.These storm conditions will rapidly increase the general avalanche hazard and are likely to create dangerous avalanche conditions. Natural avalanche activity is likely and may become widespread. Large events could run full track into avalanche run out zones at the lower elevations. The general avalanche hazard is expected to rise to HIGH at the upper elevations, at least to CONSIDERABLE at the mid elevations and to MODERATE at the lower elevations. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at the upper elevations. Expert terrain evaluation and route selection skills are essential to avoid avalanche hazards at the mid and lower elevations.
