Yesterdays strong north winds created pockets of new wind slab at the upper elevations. These hard slabs are relatively small but will pose a significant hazard to humans who venture into cliff areas, onto hanging snowfields, into very steep couloirs or other extreme terrain features. Mostly stable snow exist and avalanches are unlikely in less radical terrain and at the mid and lower elevations.
At the upper elevations isolated pockets of hard wind slab six to 18 inches in depth could be triggered by humans on very steep unsupported slopes. Once triggered these small, hard slabs could quickly accelerate and carry humans over cliffs or significant distances in very steep terrain. The potential for humans to trigger these wind slabs will increase as temperatures warm.
Dry conditions will persist with valley inversions. On Friday skies will be clear above areas of morning valley fog. In the mountains temperatures will drop into the teens overnight and rise into the 20s during the day. Valley temperatures will drop below zero tonight and rise to near 20 degrees in the afternoon. Winds will be west to northwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW. At the upper elevations isolated pockets of shallow, hard slab could be human triggered on very steep slopes.
