Dangerous avalanche conditions continue. Skiers and riders venturing into avalanche terrain can cause failure of weak persistent snow layers deep in the snowpack. The potential exists for these avalanches to be very large and carry serious consequences. This problem exists on all aspects. Sunshine and warming temperatures will increase the likelihood for these dangerous slides to release. Be conservative with terrain choice decisions to avoid this avalanche hazard.
A single person could initiate slab failure involving weak snow and hard crusts formed in late November and early December. This could occur as terrain is first entered or after it has been tracked several times. At higher elevations, these slabs will be hard and have depths to as much as five feet. At lower elevations, slabs will be soft or hard with depths to eighteen inches.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )After mostly clear conditions tonight, clouds are to increase on Thursday as a cold front approaches from the northwest. This system should bring snow to the area Thursday night. Mountain temperatures during the day are to rise from the upper teens to upper twenties and southwest winds are to increase throughout the day, with averages of twenty to twenty five miles per hour expected in the late afternoon. The general avalanche hazard will remain Considerable above 7500 feet. Dangerous slabs, that could be small to very large, remain very sensitive and could by triggered by a single person. Slab depths and hardness depend greatly upon elevation. At higher elevations depths could be as great as six feet and will release as hard slabs. As elevation decreases to near 7500 feet, depths are more likely to be 18 inches to two feet. Below 7500 feet, avalanche activity is likely to occur only on steep north facing slopes and pose greatest threats in terrain traps.
