A large soft slab avalanche was reported to have released naturally on a northeast aspect of Albright Peak yesterday. Another four inches of new snow fell at the upper elevations overnight. At the upper elevations soft slabs have gained depth and volume during the past several days and lie upon crusts and surface hoar that formed during a dry dry period last week. These slabs could be triggered by skiers and riders today and have become larger and therefor more dangerous than they have been. Isolated pockets of wind slab may also exist in extreme terrain at the mid elevations. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.
At the upper elevations and in isolated terrain features at the mid elevations skiers and riders could trigger soft slab avalanches up to two feet deep. Warming temperatures may increase the sensitivity of these slides to human triggers.
Following a chance for periods of light snowfall tonight, precipitation chances are to increase Thursday morning and continue into Friday morning. During the day, two to five inches could fall at upper elevations where high temperatures are to reach the upper twenties. At the lower elevations snow could change to rain as temperatures rise with the rain/snow line possible reaching 8000 feet.Additional snowfall will increase both the size and sensitivity of soft slabs that lie upon sun crusts and surface hoar. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate above 8000 feet where these sensitive slabs could have depths to two feet in the morning and possibly three feet during the afternoon. The avalanche hazard below 8000 is expected to be low with an unlikely chance for avalanche activity during the day.
