Yesterday day and into today, strong west to northwest winds are forming wind slabs above 8,500 feet. It is possible for riders and skiers to trigger wind slab avalanches, and these slides could be large enough to injure or bury a person. Even though it has become less likely to trigger a deep slab avalanche, it is still a concern above 7,500 feet. To initiate failure on this persistent layer it will take a large load or in an area where the snowpack is thin. Below 7,500 feet, avalanches are unlikely.
Strong winds have loaded leeward slopes above 8,000 feet, favoring the upper elevation start zones. These slabs could be 1 to 2 feet in depth and will be more easily triggered by a human as the day warms.
It is still possible to trigger deep, hard slab avalanches involving weak snow near the base of the snowpack. If triggered these slabs could have crown depths of 3 to 7 feet. Larger triggers, such as a cornice drop, a moving wind slab or a snow machine hitting a thin spot on a slope, may be required to trigger such an event. Involvement in one of these slides would likely be fatal.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )As a ridge of high pressure builds over the region conditions are expected to be mostly dry with a slight chance of light snowfall. Partly cloudy skies will thicken and become mostly cloudy by the afternoon. Winds will be west to northwest at 10 to 30 miles with a period of increased winds speed predawn. Tomorrow's temperature will begin in the single digits and then rise into the 20s. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be moderate at the mid and upper elevations (7,500 to 10,500 feet). Over the past few days, skiers and riders have triggered wind slab avalanches in extreme terrain resulting in near-misses, where individuals were caught, carried, and partially buried. It is possible for humans to continue to trigger these slides 1 to 2 feet in depth, especially in steep, cliffy terrain. Deep persistent slab avalanches are still a concern. These dangerous slides could be 3 to 7 feet in depth and will most likely be triggered where the snowpack is thin or by a larger load, like a snow machine or surface slab. The general avalanche hazard below 7,500 feet is expected to be low.
