Above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders still have the potential of triggering small to large persistent slab avalanches in steep, avalanche prone terrain. There is a significant amount of spatial variability associated with these persistent slabs. Many slopes are stable, some are not, and it is difficult to distinguish between the two. Your simplest tool for avoiding avalanches is to make conservative terrain choices. Shallow pockets of wind slab may also begin to develop by this evening. Mostly stable snow exists below 7,500 feet. Down there, small wet slides might become possible if a rain on snow event occurs in the afternoon.
In some areas above 7,500 feet, buried layers of surface hoar remain a concern. Large grained facets also exist near the base of shallow snow packs. On steep, avalanche prone slopes, backcountry travelers could trigger persistent slab avalanches failing on these weak layers. These slabs could range in depth from one to three feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Cloud cover will increase overnight, and light snowfall will develop by midday. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the upper teens before rising into the upper 20s during the day. Valley temperatures will rise into the mid-30s in the afternoon, and rain will be possible. Southwesterly ridgetop winds will increase to 20 to 30 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Moderate above 7,500 feet on Saturday. Skiers and riders still have the potential of triggering persistent slab avalanches ranging in depth from one to four feet in steep, avalanche prone terrain. There is a significant amount of spatial variability associated with these persistent slabs, both between and within forecast zones. Many slopes are stable, some are not, and it is difficult to distinguish between the two. Your best tool for avoiding avalanches is to make conservative terrain choices. Below 7,500 feet, mostly stable snow exists. Down there, small wet slides might become possible if a rain on snow event occurs in the afternoon.
