Avalanche conditions are still dangerous above an elevation of 8000 feet. Up there humans who venture into avalanche terrain could trigger large persistent slab avalanches. These slides could occur even after a slope has been tracked and some potential remains for failure to occur remotely, as a group approaches terrain from above or below a slope. These slides will fail on slopes where a persistent weak layer of faceted snow persists near the base of the snowpack. Avalanches below 8000 feet are not likely today.
Dangerous slab avalanches up to 3 feet in depth can be triggered by the weight of a single person. These slabs lie over weak basal facets and are most likely to be found on west thru north to east facing slopes from 8000-9000 feet and all aspects at higher elevations.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A strengthening westerly flow will bring a period of intermittent light snowfall to areas of north of Salt River Pass overnight. Local accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the mountains by morning. Skies will slowly clear on Friday. Temperatures will rise into the mid to upper 20’s in the mountains and into the mid-30’s in the valleys. Winds will back to the south at 15 to 25 miles per hour.Conditions are still dangerous at the mid and upper elevations. Large persistent slab avalanches, 2 to 4 feet in depth, can be triggered by the weight of a person on steep slopes. In these conditions previous tracks on a suspect slope should not be interpreted to be an indication of stability. In these areas the general avalanche hazard is considerable. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,000 feet and in areas above that elevation where a weak layer of faceted snow does not exist near the base of the snowpack. In these areas the general avalanche hazard is low.
