Backcountry skiers and riders could trigger surface slabs in steep wind loaded terrain today at the high elevations. In isolated areas above 9000', a slight chance persists to trigger large slides involving weak snow near the base of the snowpack. At mid elevations isolated pockets of shallow surface slabs could be triggered and avalanches are unlikely in the shallow snowpack at low elevations today.
Light snow and varying winds earlier in the week have formed soft slabs, particularly near ridges and in areas prone to wind loading. These slabs could be human triggered today in pockets with depths to eighteen inches at the high elevations and in smaller isolated pockets at the mid elevations.
In isolated areas at the high elevations, a layer of crusts and facets persists at the base of the snowpack. Although unlikely to be triggered by humans, such an event could have depths to six feet and if triggered would carry severe consequences.
A weak system is expected to bring light snow to the mountains overnight and into Saturday morning. A few inches of snow could fall from this system before slightly colder and drier air arrives on Saturday. High temperatures should be in the teens and southwest winds are to have averages below twenty miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate above 9000 feet where backcountry travelers could trigger pockets of soft surface slabs to two feet depths in steep wind loaded terrain.
