Continued snowfall, very strong winds, and a two day warming trend have formed wind slabs at the mid and high elevations. These slabs will be sensitive to backcountry skiers and riders today in steep leeward terrain above 7500 feet and could release naturally at high elevations from additional loading or from failing cornices that have grown considerably during recent days. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended in areas of High hazard. Below 7500, avalanche activity is unlikely except for small wind slabs on loaded on specific terrain features or from wet slides that could occur this afternoon in very steep terrain if sustained rains occur.
Very strong west to southwest winds over the last three days with gusts to over 60 mph have formed soft to hard wind slabs in leeward terrain. Slab depths could reach two feet at the mid elevations and could exceed three feet at the highest elevations. At the lower elevations isolated pockets of wind slab up to a foot in depth could be human triggered on very steep wind loaded avalanche prone slopes.
Periods of heavy snowfall are expected to continue through Friday evening. Up to a foot of new snow could fall during this time at the high elevations. Temperatures are to remain relatively warm through this period and light rain is expected in the valleys. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable above 9000 feet and Moderate below that elevation. As snow in the maritime type storm system continues to load slopes, dense wind slabs could be easily human triggered with depths that could reach three feet at the higher elevations where a chance for natural activity will also exist in areas of excessive wind loading or in paths or bowls that could be impacted by cornice drops. If significant rainfall occurs at lower elevations, a chance for isolated wet slide activity could also develop.
