New snow and westerly winds have formed pockets of wind slab at the upper elevations and isolated pockets at the mid elevations. Backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs in steep terrain as well as loose snow sloughs in very steep terrain. Avoid travelling into areas where small slides can have high consequences. As skies clear and temperatures rise, wet slide activity involving the new snow at the mid and upper elevations and deeper snow at the low elevations may become possible.
Soft slabs to one foot in depth could be triggered in wind loaded avalanche starting zones. These slabs formed during high snowfall rates and are expected to become less sensitive as the day progresses.
Partial clearing is expected to slowly continue through the night. Wednesday morning looks to mostly clear. During the afternoon, west winds are to increase from 10-20 mph averages to speeds closer to 25 mph. Mountain temperatures are to start In the upper teens but could quickly rise into the low thirties depending on the amount of morning sunshine. The general avalanche hazard will be Low on Wednesday. Backcountry travelers will have the potential to trigger lingering wind slabs on isolated terrain features, particularly at the high elevations. The chance for wet slides could develop if rapid warming occurs. Wet slide activity would just involve new snow at higher elevations but could involve deeper snow at the lowest elevations where the snowpack was substantially weakened during the weekend’s warm temperatures and some rain.
