Human triggered slab avalanches are possible on steep slopes. At the mid and upper elevations these slides could be triggered on persistent weak layers. At the lower elevations the snowpack has poor structure and slides could fail on a base of well-developed faceted snow. Evaluate the snowpack and terrain carefully.
In steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations skiers and riders could trigger slab avalanches one to three feet in depth. At the lower elevations small pockets of surface slab up to 14 inches in deep could be human triggered on isolated terrain features.
High pressure will continue to build over the region resulting in clear skies and inverted temperatures. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the single digits before rising into the mid-20s during the day. Ridgetop winds will be light and variable.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate above 7,500 feet on Saturday. The potential remains for skiers and riders to trigger persistent slab avalanches one to three feet deep in steep avalanche terrain. Abundant sunshine and warming temperatures might increase the likelihood of triggering these slides on sunlit aspects. Don’t let the weekend and blue skies impair your judgement. Evaluate the snowpack often, and don’t assume that one snowpit will give you a representative picture of the hazard. Below 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of shallow slab in very steep terrain.
