Light density snow and very strong northwesterly winds Monday and Monday night created soft surface slabs on lee slopes at mid and upper elevations. Triggered avalanches may also involve denser slabs from Saturday's storm that was driven by westerly winds. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.
Recent storms with west to northwesterly winds have created slabs one to three feet in depth on lee slopes at mid and upper elevations. Backcountry users have the potential to release these slabs in steep areas particularly near ridge crests, cliff bands and chutes.
A weak layer comprised of faceted snow on an early season crust persist near the base of the snowpack in some upper elevation avalanche paths. It is very unlikely that a person could trigger a deep slab avalanche on this layer but if they did the consequences would be severe.
A series of weak troughs will continue to bring light snow to the mountains overnight and through Thursday. One to four inches of snow could fall in each twelve hour period. Temperatures should be similar to today with highs near twenty degrees and southwest winds are to have averages near twenty miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate at higher elevations where surface slabs could be triggered in steep wind loaded terrain. In isolated areas the potential exists for hard slab avalanches to occur on weak snow near the base of the snowpack. Such failure is likely to require large triggers such as snow machines, groups of people, or possibly a triggered surface slab.
