During the past four days up to two feet of new snow with up to two inches of moisture has fallen at the higher elevations. At the uppper elevations strong north to northwest winds overnight have created pockets of wind slab. These slabs could be human triggered on steep wind loaded slopes that are undelain by old snow surfaces. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations and unlikely at the mid elevations except in isolated pockets on very steep north facing avalanche starting zones.
At the upper elevations pockets of new wind slab up to two feet in depth that were formed by north to northwest winds could be triggered on steep wind loaded slopes that are underlain by old snow layers.
Skies will be mostly clear overnight with some areas of valley fog possible by morning. Overall Saturday will be sunny with temperatures rising into the 30s and 40s in the mountains and into the 50s in the valleys. Winds will be south-southwest along the highest ridge lines at speeds of 10 to 20 with gusts to 25 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 9,000 feet and LOW below that elevation. Humans who venture onto steep slopes at the upper elevations, that are underlain by slick old snow surfaces, could trigger pockets of wind slab up to two feet deep. Avalanches are unlikely in areas where the recent new snow accumulated on bare ground.
