At the mid and upper elevations, small to large persistent slab avalanches remain a threat to backcountry travelers in steep, avalanche prone terrain. Be skeptical of the snowpack. Great skiing and riding can be found on safe, low angle slopes. If you choose to travel into high consequence terrain, expert snowpack evaluation and route finding skills will be mandatory. Avalanche activity is unlikely at the lower elevations.
Above 7,500 feet, buried layers of faceted snow reside one to three feet beneath the snow surface. Skiers and riders venturing onto steep, avalanche prone slopes still have the potential to trigger persistent slab avalanches failing on these weak layers.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning beginning at midnight and continuing through 6 PM on Sunday. A quick moving, potent winter storm will bring moderate to heavy snowfall to the region overnight and through midday on Sunday before snowfall intensity begins to decrease in the afternoon. Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds will increase to 25 to 35 miles per hour with gust to near 50. Mountain temperatures will rise into the upper teens during the day.Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected on Sunday, and the general avalanche hazard will rise to Considerable. Rapid loading will continue to build new wind slabs and load existing weak layers of faceted snow that reside deeper in the snowpack. Skiers and riders that venture into steep terrain will be likely to trigger these newly developed slabs, and the chance of triggering persistent slab avalanches will also be on the rise. These persistent slabs, which could range in depth from two to four feet, could also step down from the release of a smaller wind slab. Natural avalanche activity will also be possible. Conservative terrain choices will be essential for safe travel in the backcountry on Sunday.
