Human triggered avalanches will become possible later today in steep, high elevation terrain. The crusts beneath recent snowfall up to about 9,000’ will continue to make travel difficult and new slabs easier to trigger. Slabs could grow to 1 to 2 feet thick by afternoon and will be easy to trigger due to their recent formation. Though natural avalanche activity is unlikely, blowing snow, low visibility and the firm bed surface will make for challenging conditions to identify and avoid today's avalanche problems. Author: Frank Carus
West winds will transport light density snow and deposit it onto lee slopes and behind terrain features. Pay close attention to rates of snowfall and signs of wind loading. The firm bed surface that exists in many areas will allow moving debris to entrain more snow and rapidly pick up speed.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A Winter Storm Warning goes into effect tonight with 2-3” new snow overnight and 3-5” more tomorrow. Though the heaviest snow will occur Tuesday night, west winds tomorrow in the higher elevations are likely to create a wind slab problem worthy of a Moderate danger rating. While natural avalanches aren’t likely, any wind slabs that form are likely to be sensitive to triggering as they are forming. Slab depths could reach one to two feet later in the day if snowfall totals and wind speeds turn out as forecasted.
