Significant new, light density snow has accumulated over the past three days. The new snow has been easily moved onto lee slopes creating dangerous, sensitive soft slabs. Steep areas also hold the potential for human triggered sloughs that could build to dangerous size.
Up to 24 inches of light density snow in the past three days and west to southwesterly winds have created easily triggered soft slabs one to two feet in depth. People venturing into avalanche prone terrain should expect to trigger slides at mid and upper elevations. Yesterday afternoon winds picked up from the west-southwest increasing the size and sensitivity of slabs on steep, lee slopes.
Human triggered loose snow sloughs have the potential to build to dangerous size in steep areas with enough size to entrain significant snow. Ravines and terrain traps should be avoided.
A Pacific trough will move into the region Wednesday bringing light snow and southwest winds at five to ten miles per hour. Temperatures at 9,500 feet will start around five degrees and warm only to the mid teens during the day.Backcountry travelers should remain alert to the possibility of triggering soft surface slabs to 18 inches in depth on steep slopes subject to wind loading. Steep roll-overs, snow in or below cliff bands and ravine sides should be avoided. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate.
