At the lower elevations rain and warm temperatures have created unstable conditions. Large wet slides are possible on steep snow covered slopes. These slides could release naturally or be human triggered. Roof slides are also possible. At the mid and upper elevations dangerous slab avalanches could be triggered by the weight of a person or release naturally. The sensitivity of the these avalanches to natural release and human triggers will increase during the day as temperatures increase and new snow and rain increases the load on the snowpack. The avalanche warning issued by the avalanche center has been downgraded to a a Special Avalanche Bulletin. Expert route finding skills and snowpack assessment knowledge are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.
Dense wind slabs formed by westerly winds with depths of one to three feet could be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones. These slabs could step down to deeper layers of weak faceted snow or old buried hard snow surfaces in areas with poor snowpack structure and will become more sensitive to human triggers as the day warms.
Buried layers of weak snow persist at all elevations. Slabs that lie upon these weaknesses could be triggered by backcountry riders and skiers today. These slabs could have depths of three to six feet and will be wet in areas affected by rain.
Large wet slides are possible today on steep slopes at the lower elevations. The potential for natural, human triggered and wildlife triggered slides to occur will increase as the day warms. Roof slide are also likely.
Snow is forecast to end early this evening. Only a couple inches of new accumulation are expected before skies begin to clear. Temperatures are expected to drop into the lower teens to single digits at all elevations by morning. On Monday skies will be partly cloudy. Temperatures will warm in to the 20s in the mountains and into the low 30s in the valleys. Winds will be westerly overnight and back towards the southwest during the day ahead of the next approaching storm system. Winds speeds along the highest ridge lines are forecast to be 15 to 30 miles per hour.The colder temperatures, lower wind speeds and dry conditions will combine to lessen the avalanche hazard. However the snowpack will still be adjusting to the intense loading, rain and warm temperatures which have occurred during the past ten days. The potential for wet slides at the lower elevations is expected to be greatly diminished but not be completed gone. Naturally released wet slides are unlikely but some potential for human triggered wet slides may persist for another 24 hours. At the mid and upper elevations the potential for large, destructive avalanches to release naturally will also be greatly diminished. The potential for humans to trigger these very dangerous slides will persist. The general avalanches hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE.
