Conditions are dangerous, especially above an elevation of 8,500 feet. Up to a foot of new snow has fallen in the past two days and 4 feet of snow has fallen since January 1. This new load is stressing the snowpack and causing unstable conditions. Small to very large slab avalanches could be human triggered on steep slopes. Loose snow slides may also be human triggered in steep terrain and may release naturally on sunlit slopes. Expert terrain evaluation skills and conservative decisions are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today.
At the higher elevations soft slab avalanches one to three feet in depth are likely to be triggered by humans in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones. At the lower elevations smaller slab avalanches up to two feet in depth could be triggered in steep wind loaded terrain features.
Very large slab avalanches up to five feet in depth could be human triggered on weak faceted snow near the base of the snowpack. This persistent weak layer has been most active on northwest to northeast slopes above 8,500 feet but can be found on other aspects as well. These deep slab avalanche could be triggered by the weight of a single person, the weight of multiple sleds or the release of a wind slab avalanche. Being caught in one of these dangerous slab avalanches is likely to be fatal.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Periods of light snowfall are possible this evening and are expected to be over by sunrise. Skies will clear during the day. Temperatures will fall into the single digits above and below zero overnight. Daytime highs will rise into the teens in the mountains and into the 20’s in the valleys. Winds will be light at 15 to 20 miles per hour on the peaks. These winds will be from the west to northwest before they begin to back to the southwest ahead of the next storm system.Avalanche conditions are dangerous. On Friday the snowpack will still be struggling to adjust to the new load. Large to very large avalanches are likely to be human triggered on steep slopes at the mid and upper elevations where the general avalanche hazard is expected to be considerable. Natural avalanche releases are possible. These dangerous slab avalanches could be 2 to 6 feet deep. At the lower elevations, below an elevation of 7,500 feet, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be moderate. Small to large slab avalanches up to 2 feet in depth could be human triggered on steep wind-loaded terrain features.
