Dangerous avalanche conditions exist above an elevation of 7,500 feet. Multiple close calls involving skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers have occurred in the greater forecast area during the past ten days and one person has been seriously injured. Due to the poor structure of the snowpack conditions remain unstable. Large deep slab avalanches could be triggered by the weight of a single person. In these conditions expert terrain analysis skills and conservative terrain choices are essential for safe travel in the mountains. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 7,500 feet where the general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW.
At the mid and upper elevations the potential for humans to trigger slab avalanches with depths to four feet poses a serious threat to backcountry users. These dangerous slabs will fail on a deeply buried layer of faceted snow that persist on all aspects. Previous tracks are not an indication of stability.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Very cold temperatures with lows near 20 below zero are expected in the valleys overnight. Patchy areas of valley fog are likely to develop in the valleys before daybreak. In the mountains some clouds will move into the region from the west and bring a slight chance for snow flurries to occur late in the day at the higher elevations. Temperatures will rise into the teens at all elevations. Winds will continue to be light at less than ten miles per hour and veer from the southwest to the northwest. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist at the mid and upper elevations. Due to the poor structure of the snowpack the weight of a single person can trigger very large avalanches. These killer avalanches will fail on a persistent weak layer of faceted snow and are a potential hazard on all aspects of the compass. The general avalanche hazard at those elevations is expected to be CONSIDERABLE. In these conditions expert terrain analysis skills and conservative terrain choices are essential for safe travel in the mountains. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 7,500 feet where the general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW.
