Abundant sunshine, warm temperatures and calm conditions will combine to heat up and destabilize a snowpack that is struggling to adjust to 36 days of loading. The hazard will increase at all elevations as the day warms. Deep persistent slabs up to six feet deep and dense surface slabs with depths to two feet could be triggered by the weight of a single person. On steep sunlit slopes wet slides could become a hazard after snow surfaces have softened.These conditions warrant a conservative approach to terrain choices.
Dangerous hard slabs up to six feet in depth could be triggered on steep slopes where persistent layers of weak faceted exist within the snowpack. These very large slabs will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers as temperatures warm and could be triggered on slopes that have been crossed multiple times by other riders or skiers.
Dense surface slabs up to two feet in depth could be triggered by backcountry travelers venturing onto avalanche-prone slopes. These slabs could step down and trigger dangerous persistent deep slabs in areas with poor snowpack structure.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )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.
