Pockets of wind slab could be human triggered at the higher elevations on isolated terrain features. Dangerous deep slab avalanches are still a threat, especially for snowmobilers who climb steep slopes. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 7,500 feet.
Dangerous deep slab avalanches three to five feet in depth could still fail on a layer of weak faceted snow that formed in December. Failure continues to be a possibility in areas where that persistent weak layer is not as deeply buried and may require larger triggers like a snowmobile or a cornice failure. The consequences of triggering one of these deep hard slab avalanches would be severe.
Pockets of wind slab up to 18 inches in depth could be human triggered in isolated terrain features like cliff areas, steep chutes and steep wind-loaded avalanche starting zones.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Skies will be partly cloudy overnight and into the morning hours. Cloud cover will increase during the day as the next storm system approaches. Areas of light snowfall are likely to develop by evening. Temperatures will drop into the single digits overnight and rise into the teens and 20s during the day. Winds will be from the southwest and increase from 15 to 25 miles per hour with higher gusts.Instabilities associated with the recent new snow are believed to be mostly confined to isolated terrain features like cliff areas, steep chutes, steep corniced slopes and steep, wind loaded avalanche starting zones. Dangerous deep slab avalanches with depths from 2 to 5 feet are still a threat, especially for snowmobilers who climb steep slopes. The general avalanche hazard continues to be MODERATE at elevations between 7,500 and 10,500 feet and LOW below those elevations.
