The avalanche danger is MODERATE at the mid and upper elevations where human-triggered avalanches involving long-running sluffs and soft slabs of new snow up to a foot thick are possible. The avalanche danger is LOW at low elevations.
The new snow will quickly become more reactive today during any period of heavy snowfall or increase in winds.
Instabilities within the storm snow should settle out today and I'm only expecting sluffing within the storm snow on steep slopes. At the upper elevations where there is more snow and the winds have been stronger, you may also encounter sensitive soft slabs of new snow and wind-drifted snow up to a foot thick.
This photo shows today's primary avalanche concern of sluffing within storm snow.
This Morning: A strong cold front came through last evening with a burst of heavy snowfall with 4-9" of new snow overnight and 24-hour totals of 8-16" (containing 0.8 - 1.6" water). Temperatures are 15°-25° F and winds are from the northwest and moderate, gusting to 20 mph through 10,500' and into the mid-30's mph at 11,000'.
Today: 2-5"of new snow is expected. Winds will be from the northwest, with gusts in the 20's mph along exposed ridges and peaks at the mid and upper elevations with temperatures in the 20's F.
With fresh snow and moderate winds, travel and riding conditions should be excellent today! (But get it while you can as winds will shift and be from the the north and northeast overnight with strong winds forecast for Thursday.)
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The only avalanche activity reported from Tuesday was sluffing within the 3-6" of storm snow on steep aspects, although I wouldn't be surprised to hear reports of a natural avalanche cycle from overnight during the period of heavy snowfall.
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This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
