Dangerous avalanche conditions continue. Skiers and riders venturing into avalanche terrain can cause failure of weak persistent snow layers deep in the snowpack. The potential exists for these avalanches to be very large and carry serious consequences. This problem exists on all aspects at elevations above 7500 feet and on northerly aspects below that elevation. Sunshine and warming temperatures will increase the likelihood for these dangerous slides to release. Be conservative with terrain choice decisions to avoid this avalanche hazard.
A single person could initiate slab failure involving weak snow and hard crusts formed in late November and early December. This could occur as terrain is first entered or after it has been tracked several times. At higher elevations, these slabs will be hard and have depths to as much as six feet. At lower elevations, slabs will be soft or hard with depths to eighteen inches.
Snow is to start to fall tonight and continue through most of Friday. The heaviest snowfall is to be between 3am and noon. Four to eight inches of snow could fall by Friday evening. Temperatures are to be cooler with highs in the mid to upper twenties expected in the mountains. Southwest winds with twenty-five to thirty-five mile per hour averages are expected during the heaviest snowfall before veering to the west during the afternoon and then the northwest during the evening. The general avalanche hazard will be Considerable above 7500 feet. Avalanches involving weak snow and hard crusts formed in late November and December could be triggered by a single person. These slabs are likely to be hard and could have depths to five or six feet at the higher elevations diminishing to depths of two feet at elevations closer to 7500 feet. Involvement in such a slide could result in injury or death. Many close calls have occurred in the region this week and conservative terrain choices are advised. New snow will increase the sensitivity of these slabs and if significant snowfall occurs, shallow and sensitive surface slabs will form in wind loaded areas. Below 7500 feet, the hazard will be low as the potential for avalanche activity is limited to very steep north facing terrain between 7000 and 7500 feet.
