The avalanche danger will increase today as yet another storm impacts the area. As new snow accumulates, the chance to trigger loose sluffs and new shallow soft slabs will develop at the high elevations. Backcountry travelers also have the potential to trigger deeper instabilities in the snowpack with depths to three feet this morning and up to four feet this afternoon.
The possibility will develop to trigger new wind slabs at the high elevations. Strong southwest to west winds will form slabs on leeward slopes near peaks and along ridge crests. Slab depths could reach one foot by the end of the day today and once triggered could affect deeper weaknesses in the snowpack.
Buried layers of weak snow persist at all elevations. Slabs that lie upon these weaknesses could be triggered by backcountry riders and skiers today, particularly during the afternoon. These slabs could be hard or soft, and could have depths to four feet by the end of today. Understanding snowpack layers in specific locations of your travel plan is essential to good decision making.
The storm system is to continue to bring heavy snowfall through Thursday afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning through 5pm Thursday. Thursday is to be slightly warmer than today with mountain highs in the mid twenties and valleys reaching the upper thirties. Periods of rain are possible at low elevations during the afternoon. One to two feet of additional snow is possible by the end of Thursday. Stronger southwest winds with averages of thirty to forty miles per hour are likely during this period. The avalanche hazard is expected to be HIGH on Thursday and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Large avalanches could be easily triggered by a single rider or skier on a variety of aspects and elevations. Naturally triggered avalanches are also likely, particularly in areas of significant wind loading.
