At the upper elevations six inches of dense new snow lies upon crusts. Small avalanches involving this new snow could be triggered by humans or release naturally in response to sunshine on very steep slopes. At the lower elevations warm temperatures and rain showers have created wet snow avalanche hazards on steep terrain features.
At the upper elevations small slab avalanche up to a foot in depth and loose snow avalanches involving the recent new snow could be triggered by humans in very steep terrain features, like steep chutes, couloirs and cliff areas. Small slides can cause injuries in extreme terrain. Warming temperatures and periods of sunshine may increase the sensitivity of these slides to human triggers.
At the lower elevations wet slides are possible on steep terrain features where the snow becomes wet and unconsolidated. These wet slides could gouge down to the ground and could occur of a variety of aspects. At the upper elevations periods of sunshine and/or warm temperatures may cause shallow wet slides involving the recent new snow to release naturally from very steep, sunlit slopes and cliff areas.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Periods of light to moderate snowfall will continue over the mountains with another 2 to 4 inches of snow expected in the next 24 hours. Occasional rain showers are possible in the valleys. Temperatures will drop into the lower 20s in the mountains and are forecast to drop into the upper 20s in the valleys. Tomorrow’s highs will be in the 20s and 30s in the mountains and in the 40s in the valleys. Winds will be from the west to west-southwest at 10 to 20 miles per hour with higher gusts.Stronger winds and a little more dense new snow will continue to slowly increase the new snow avalanche hazard at the highest elevations. Warm temperatures and rain showers will keep the wet snow avalanche hazard going at the lower elevations. The general avalanche hazard may increase to moderate at the upper elevations, is likely to be low at the mid elevations and is likely to be moderate at the lower elevations.
