A foot of new snow, moderate to strong winds and continued snowfall have heightened the avalanche danger. At the mid and high elevations, new wind slabs that will be sensitive to backcountry riders and skiers have formed on a variety of snow surfaces. The added load of approximately one inch of moisture to the snowpack will also make deeper instabilities more susceptible to failure. If triggered these deeper slabs will be large to very large and are likely to carry severe consequences to anyone involved. Avalanches below 7500 feet are unlikely today except in isolated pockets. Conservative decision making and an understanding of the snowpack is essential to safe backcountry travel today.
Dangerous deep slab avalanches 2 to 5 feet in depth could be human triggered on distinct persistent weak layers that were buried in mid-January and December. New loading will further increase the sensitivity of these slabs and failure could occur today to the weight of a single person, to the movement of a surface slab, or possibly release naturally.
Above 7500 feet, new soft surface slabs will be sensitive to backcountry travelers in areas prone to wind loading with depths to two feet.
Snow is to resume by morning and increase throughout the day with heaviest snowfall occurring during the afternoon and evening. Temperatures in the mountains are to reach the mid teens. Winds will be westerly to southwesterly with twenty to thirty mph averages.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable above 7500 feet and Low below that elevation. Recently formed wind slabs will grow in size and sensitivity as the new system impacts the higher elevations. Hazard also exists as these storms are further loading persistent buried weak layers formed in mid January and early December. Avalanches involving these deeper layers are likely to be large and carry serious consequences to anyone involved.
