The higher elevations have received up to 10 inches of new snow since early yesterday morning. The general avalanche hazard is moderate above an elevation of 9,000 feet. Up there humans could trigger soft slab and loose snow avalanches on steep slopes. In terrain with consequences these slides could be large enough to injure, fully bury and/or kill a person. Avalanches are unlikely below that elevation except in isolated pockets on very steep terrain features. Evaluate terrain carefully. Avoid unnecessary risks, especially if you are travelling solo, and practice social distancing directives.
At the higher elevations humans could trigger soft slab avalanches up to 18 inches in depth. Isolated pockets of soft slab up to 10 inches in depth could be human triggered on very steep terrain features below an elevation of 9,000 feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The heavier snowfall will shift into the southern portion of our forecast region while light to moderate snow showers continue over the western and northern areas. Additional accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are possible in the western and northern areas. Six to 12 inches are possible in the southern areas by Thursday evening. Temperatures will be in the teens tonight and rise into the 20’s during the day. Northerly winds are forecast to be light at 5 to 15 miles per hour.Humans who venture onto steep slopes could trigger loose snow avalanches. In areas where winds have been strong enough to drift snow, humans could triggered soft slab avalanches. These loose snow and soft slab avalanches could be 6 to 18 inches deep. They could be large enough to fully bury and injure or kill a person in terrain with consequences. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be moderate at the higher elevations. The hazard will be low at the lower elevations. A strong wind event is not in the forecast, however if one was to occur it would increase the avalanche hazard.
