Yesterdays storm system brought two to six inches of snow to the mountains. At the upper elevations on east through north to west aspects this new snow accumulated on faceted snow that lies upon rain crusts that formed in October. Some potential exist for humans to trigger isolated pockets of soft slab and loose snow sloughs on very steep slopes where this new snow lies upon hard crusts. Small slides in steep terrain can cause serious injury, especially during early season conditions when rocks and other obstacles increase the potential for traumatic injury. Avalanche hazards are not a concern in terrain where the recent new snow has accumulated on bare ground.
At the upper elevations isolated pockets of soft slab less than a foot deep could be human triggered in very steep terrain on east through north to west aspects.
Skies will be mostly sunny under a high pressure ridge. Warming aloft will occur as temperature inversions develop. Overnight lows will be in the teens in the mountains and near 10 degrees in the valleys. Daytime highs will rise into the 20s and 30s. Winds will be from the southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard at the upper elevations in expected to be LOW. Some potential may remain for humans to trigger a shallow surface slab in steep avalanche starting zones where wind drifted snow lies upon a weak layer of faceted snow and a slick crust. Small slides in steep terrain can cause serious injury, especially during early season conditions when rocks and other obstacles increase the potential for traumatic injury. Avalanche hazards are not a concern in terrain where the recent new snow lies upon bare ground.
