Up to six inches of new snow with about 0.6 inches of moisture has fallen in the mountains since early yesterday morning. On east through north to west aspects at the upper elevations this snow fell upon weak faceted snow that lies upon a hard rain crust. In steep terrain on these aspects humans could trigger pockets of surface slab and loose snow sloughs. Early season conditions exist, and even small slides can cause serious injury. Elsewhere this new snow fell on mostly bare ground and avalanche hazards are not a concern.
At the upper elevations pockets of soft slab up to a foot in depth could be triggered by humans who venture into steep terrain were recent new snow lies upon hard rain crusts that formed in October.
High pressure is to build tonight but be short lived as a low pressure system is to move into the area tomorrow afternoon, bringing increased chances of snow. Snowfall is expected Wednesday night into Thursday at all elevations. Wednesday’s high temperatures look to be in the mid-twenties in the mountains and the mid-thirties in the valleys. The general avalanche hazard is expected to Low above 9000 feet. At high elevations soft slabs could be triggered in steep terrain where recently fallen snow lies upon old snow topped with a rain crust. Caution is advised as even small slides could sweep skiers or riders into boulders or other low snowpack hazards.
