Yesterday, shallow pockets of wind slab were easily triggered on aspects with prominent sun crusts at the mid and upper elevations. Similar slides could be triggered by backcountry travelers today. As the day warms, these slabs will become more susceptible to failure, particularly on sunlit aspects if there are any extended periods of sunshine. The snowpack is mostly stable at the lower elevations and avalanches are unlikely.
Strong southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds, along with six to ten inches of new snow over the past two days, have created wind slabs with depths of six to eighteen inches. These slabs formed on hard sliding surfaces. On steep, wind-loaded aspects above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could trigger these slabs with depths of six to eighteen inches.
The next low pressure system is approaching and will direct warm moist air into the region ahead of an associated cold front. Several inches of new snowfall are possible at the higher elevations overnight. On Saturday light snowfall is possible in the morning at the higher elevations. In the afternoon the snow may mix with rain at the lower elevations before increasing in intensity and turning to all snow in the evening. Winds along the highest ridge crests will be southwesterly at 15 to 25 miles per hour with higher gusts. Temperatures will drop into the 20s overnight and rise into the 30s in the mountains and into the 40s in the valleys during the day.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the higher elevations where pockets of soft surface slab one to two feet in depth could be triggered by skiers or riders who venture into very steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW at the mid and lower elevations.
