Up to ten inches of new snow with about one half inch of moisture has fallen on hard old snow surfaces at the higher elevations since Friday morning. Winds have veered from the west to the north and then to the east with average speeds of 5 to 15 and gusts to 30 miles per hour. New surface slabs could be human triggered in very steep terrain and cliff areas above an elevation of 8,000 feet. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.
Pockets of surface slab up to 18 inches in depth could be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. These slabs were formed by west, northwest and east winds.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Some additional light snowfall is likely overnight. Snow shower activity will end on Sunday. Skies will slowly clear as a high pressure ridge builds into the region. Temperatures will be cold in a northeast flow. Overnight lows near zero are expected. Daytime highs will rise into the single digits and teens. Winds will be easterly at 10 to 20 miles per hour with higher gusts.At the mid and upper elevations small pockets of soft surface slab up to 18 inches in depth in isolated areas could be triggered by skiers or riders in steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. Shallow loose snow sluffs could also be human triggered on very steep slopes. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 8,000 feet and LOW below that elevation.
