Significant avalanche hazards exist at all elevations. At the mid and upper elevations deep persistent slabs with depths to ten feet and surface slabs with depths to three feet could be triggered by the weight of a single person. The sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers will increase as the day warms. Natural avalanches activity is possible. The potential for wet slides to be human triggered on steep slopes at the lower elevations will increase after snow surfaces have softened.
During the past 36 days up to 200 inches of new snow with 23 inches of moisture has accumulated on slick January drought surfaces. Killer slabs with crown depths of six to ten feet have been remotely triggered by skiers. The consequences of being caught in one of these slabs would likely be fatal.
Dense winds slabs with depths of one to four feet have been easily triggered by skiers and released naturally during the past several days. Multiple people have been caught and carried, some were partially buried. The potential to trigger these slabs will increase as temperatures rise and if sunny conditions develop.
Unstable isothermal snow exist on steep slopes at the lower elevations. The potential for humans to trigger wet slides will increase as snow surfaces soften.
A high pressure ridge will bring dry conditions, sunshine and a warming trend. Skies will be mostly sunny on Saturday. Temperatures will rise from overnight lows in the teens into the 30s and 40s. Winds will be nearly calm from the northwest.Abundant sunshine, warm temperatures and calm conditions will combine to heat up and destabilize a snowpack that is struggling to maintain stability. The general avalanche hazard will increase during the day and will be CONSIDERABLE at all elevations. Very dangerous deep slabs and large surface slabs will be sensitive to human triggers at the mid and upper elevations. At the lower elevations the threat from wet slides will persist on steep, snow covered slopes.
