At the higher elevations northwest winds have drifted snow onto leeward aspects. Wind slab avalanches could be triggered by skiers and riders who venture into steep avalanche prone terrain features. Wet slides are also a possibility on steep sunlit slopes and cliff areas. The potential for wet slides to occur and for humans to trigger wind slabs will increase as the day progresses. Monitor conditions and be prepared to move to cooler aspects and off of and out from under steep terrain during the warmest portion of the day. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,500 feet.
At the higher elevations northwest winds have formed slabs up to two feet in depth. These slabs could be triggered by riders and skiers in steep, wind loaded avalanche starting zones and could injure or bury a person. These slabs are likely to become increasingly sensitive to human triggers as the day warms.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Conditions will be dryer with partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will be in the teens and 20s in the mountains and rise into the 30s at the lower elevations. Northwest winds will be light to moderate and gusty.At the upper elevations pockets of wind slab one to two feet in depth could be human triggered in steep avalanche prone terrain features. These slabs could injure or bury a person. These slabs will become more sensitive to human triggers during the warmest portion of the day. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 8,500 feet and LOW below that elevation.
