Temperatures at 5 AM were around five degrees cooler than yesterday morning. Above 8,000 feet, skiers and riders venturing onto steep, avalanche-prone slopes could trigger small to large pockets of wind slab. Westerly ridgetop winds picked up late in the day on Friday and continued overnight. These winds were strong enough to transport snow near higher elevation ridgelines, and terrain with obvious signs of recent wind loading should be avoided. When evaluating the upper portion of the snowpack, look for failures in density breaks and examine the degree to which the recent snowfall is bonding to sun and rain crusts. The snowpack is mostly stable below 8,000 feet and avalanches are unlikely.
Above 8,000 feet, pockets of wind slab up to two feet in depth could be triggered by backcountry travelers in steep, wind-loaded avalanche starting zones, couloirs and cliff areas. These slabs could fail on density breaks within the recent snowfall or possibly down to sun and rain crusts below.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Scattered, convective snow showers will remain possible at times on Saturday, but little accumulation is expected. Periods of sunshine will be interspersed with these light snow showers. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the single digits before rising into the low to mid teens during the day. Southwesterly ridgetop winds will range from 10 to 20 miles per hour.On Saturday, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. In steep, avalanche prone terrain, skiers and riders could trigger pockets of recently developed slabs one to two feet in depth. When analyzing the upper portion of the snowpack, look for failures in density breaks and examine the degree to which the recent snowfall is bonding to sun and rain crusts. Avalanche activity below the rain crust from early February is unlikely.
