The chance continues for a single backcountry rider or skier to trigger large deep persistent slab avalanches at the upper elevations. Wind slab avalanches could also be triggered at the upper elevations as well as the mid elevations. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding and conservative decisions are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.
Large destructive slab avalanches with depths to five feet could be triggered on east through north to west aspects. These large slabs will be hard, and are likely to have crowns high up in the slide path although initiation may occur lower on the slope. Beware that a few tracks are not an indication of stability for this type of hazard.
Wind slabs formed by west-southwest to west-northwest winds could be human triggered at the mid and upper elevations with depths to two feet.
A winter storm warning is in effect through Saturday morning. Snow is to develop overnight and continue through Friday and into the weekend. Precipitation will start with cooler temperatures tonight and then be followed with warmer temperatures on Friday with mountain highs in the mid twenties expected. Approximately ten inches of snow is expected to fall by 5pm Friday. Southwest winds with twenty to twenty five mile per hour averages are to occur through this period. Friday evening and night winds are to increase to 25-35 mph averages and snowfall intensity is also to increase. The general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable above 9000 feet, Moderate from 7500 feet to 9000 feet and Low below 7500 feet. The chance to trigger existing deep slab avalanches and wind slab avalanches with maximum depths to five feet will continue. The avalanche danger is to slowly increase during the day as expected gradual loading increases the sensitivity of these existing slabs and starts to create new wind slabs on existing snow surfaces. The rate and timing of this increase in danger will depend on the actual amount and timing of new snow and wind. Check updated information in Friday's morning advisory.
