Five to ten inches of new snow with up to an inch of moisture fell at the upper elevations between 10 AM and 5 PM yesterday. This snow fell upon about five inches of older snow that accumulated during the previous six days. Several days of strong westerly winds accompanied that earlier snowfall. Snow depths at the upper elevations range from 8 to 15 inches. Depths to 20 inches are possible in areas prone to drifting. Snow depths at the mid elevations range from three to six inches. Bare ground exist at the lower elevations.
At the upper elevations west-southwest and west winds have drifted snow onto leeward aspects. Some potential may exist for humans to trigger isolated pockets of surface slab 6 to 18 inches in depth in very steep avalanche stating zones and cliff areas. Due to the shallow snow depths and numerous obstacles the consequences of triggering a small slab avalanches in extreme terrain are likely to be severe.
Periods of snowfall are likely to continue in the high country overnight and are expected to increase in intensity during the afternoon hours, ahead of an approaching cold front. Winds will be south-southwest to south with gusts to 35 miles per hour. Temperatures will be in the upper 20s and 30s at the higher elevations as the freezing level hovers around the 7,500 to 8,000 foot level. The general avalanche hazard in snow covered terrain is LOW and avalanches are unlikely.
